Yusuf Maart was a notable absentee when Kaizer Chiefs departed on Thursday night for their pre-season camp in Apeldoorn, located roughly 80 kilometres east of Amsterdam.
The two-week European tour, running until July 19, will see the Soweto giants face five top-flight Dutch teams from both the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie in friendly encounters.
Maart’s absence isn’t due to injury or squad rotation – it marks the final step in an imminent international transfer.
Despite recently signing a contract extension with Chiefs, the 28-year-old midfielder is reportedly set to join an Austrian club, with only his work visa still pending in South Africa.
The move comes as a surprise given his recent recommitment to the club, but it also highlights Maart’s rising profile.
The former Sekhukhune United captain played a pivotal role in ending Amakhosi’s long trophy drought, scoring the decisive goal in the 2–1 Nedbank Cup final win over bitter rivals Orlando Pirates – a strike now etched in club folklore.
That historic victory also secured Chiefs a spot in the 2025 Caf Confederation Cup, a campaign they will now undertake without one of their key midfield generals.
Maart’s expected departure is the latest in a reshuffle at Naturena. Venezuelan international Edson Castillo has already exited, while new head coach Nasreddine Nabi prepares to integrate recent signing Siphesihle Ndlovu from SuperSport United into the squad’s midfield core.
Chiefs have been active in the transfer market, signalling a shift in tactical direction. New recruits include creative midfielder Ethan Chislett, Portuguese striker Flavio Silva, and fullbacks Thabiso Monyane, Paseka Mako, and Nkanyiso Shinga.
While the team prepares for high-level European tests in the Netherlands, Maart is set to embark on a European adventure of his own – one that further underlines the growing global appeal of South African talent.
