Kaizer Chiefs are understood to have a very high budget this season for both buying players and taking the squad for the European pre-season training camp, according to insiders privy to information.
As first reported by Soccer Laduma, Chiefs will be going to Europe, which will be two weeks from July 3rd to 19th in the Netherlands.
An insider with oversight of the club's travel plans has indicated that Amakhosi are expected to spend over R20 million just for this pre-season tour, so, not counting new signings.
READ: Pirates Looking To Add Ninth Signing?
"The actual amount is believed to be between R22 million to R25 million which the team is expecting to spend in Holland. It's an investment the team believes will help in team building for next season. It will be more than what the team spent last year when we went to Turkey. Last year it was between R15 million and R20 million. Yes, it's because they increased the budget both for the trip and for signing players this season. It's a better budget compared to last season and you will notice by the players the club will sign, this season the budget has improved," the insider told the Siya crew.
A Naturena insider with knowledge of the club's planning then stated that the football department are understood to have requested an improved budget from the board so that they can give the coach what he needs and wants.
"Most of the time last season the coach complained about squad quality. So in January the club increased the budget for last season to bring in players like (Makabi) Lilepo and Thabo Cele. Then at the end of the season he requested another increase hence the budget for going to the Netherlands and buying more quality players this season. Things are believed to be looking good for the football department this season," the second source revealed.
Amakhosi should leave for Holland on Thursday, 3 July, where they will play in four pre-season friendly games.
READ: Sundowns Set To Wrap Up Latest Signing?
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on this story but there was no response at the time of preparing this story.
The significant financial commitment to both the European tour and player recruitment suggests Amakhosi are serious about addressing last season's disappointments on the domestic front.
After finishing ninth in the league despite winning the Nedbank Cup, this enhanced investment appears to be a direct response to coach Nabi's concerns.
