The move will give the Kaizer Chiefs academy graduates an opportunity to gain valuable senior experience. It will come in the form of the the newly formed Hope FC competing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship under the PSL umbrella.
Hlongwane and Phago have both developed through the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy, where they established themselves as promising prospects for the Soweto giants.
NALEDI HLONGWANE AND PHEKO PHAGO MOVE TO HOPE FC
Hlongwane progressed through the Amakhosi youth structures before breaking into the first-team setup during the 2025/26 season.
The striker made senior appearances in the Betway Premiership. He featured against the likes of Stellenbosch FC and Chippa United as he continued his development at senior level.
Phago, meanwhile, caught the eye with the Kaizer Chiefs reserve side in the DStv Diski Challenge. He earned opportunities to train with the senior team towards the end of last season.
The midfielder was included on the bench for the club’s final match of the previous campaign against Chippa United.
KAIZER CHIEFS WANT RIGHT CONTEXT
Fernando Da Cruz has a proven pedigree of developing young players from his previous coaching roles. However, the Frenchman has stressed that youngsters need to be introduced into the senior team in the right context.
His view is that they should not be thrown into a team that is still undergoing a major rebuilding process. Instead, the coach believes young players are more likely to succeed when they are introduced into a settled team that is already performing well.
That approach could explain why opportunities for Kaizer Chiefs‘ academy graduates are being managed carefully. The duo of Hlongwane and Phago will now link up with fellow Naturena academy graduates Samkelo Zwane and goalkeeper Bontle Molefe at Hope FC.
The Cape Town-based side are embarking on their first season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Kaizer Chiefs wished the youngsters well as they begin their new chapter in the Mother City.
“Wishing the boys well in the Mother City,” the club said in its announcement.