Kaizer Chiefs fell to a 2-1 defeat to Eredivisie side FC Twente in their final pre-season fixture in the Netherlands.
Twente finished fifth in the Dutch top-flight last season and reached the league phase of the UEFA Europa League, which continued their rise after several years of financial struggles and even relegation at one point.
The club who former Chiefs captain Bernard Parker won the league with in the 2010/11 season proved a solid opposition in their final their five games in Europe; with Amakhosi coming out with one win and four defeats.
Daan Rots opened the scoring on the brink of half-time, against another youthful line-up from Nasreddine Nabi’s side DStv Diski Challenge graduates, Thulani Mabaso, Mfundo Vilakazi and Naledi Hlongwane all earning starts.
However, they managed to keep up with the pace of the game, in the second half and managed to level matters via Inacio Miguel who slotted the ball home after seeing his initial penalty saved.
But Tunisia international winger Sayfallah Ltaief netted the winner five minutes before the end of the clash, after the Chiefs defence switched off in the closing stages of the game.
The heavily rotated squad came after beating fellow top-flight side PEC Zwolle 1-0 yesterday; where Hlongwane netted the winning goal.
Overall, it’s likely to prove invaluable experience and preparation for the Soweto giants, who will now return to South Africa, and will be in action again in the Toyota Cup in Durban, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium – where they will face Ghanian giants Asante Kotoko.
The game is scheduled to take place on 26 July, in the second edition of the pre-season cup, having debuted last season with Young Africans SC in Bloemfontein.
