The Angolan defender’s development seen as crucial to his success at Naturena
Angolan central defender Miguel Inacio has been backed to succeed at the club due to the grounding he received at his previous clubs.
Chiefs unveiled Inacio early this week, becoming their fifth signing, and the 28-year-old centre-back is set to beef up coach Nasreddine Nabi’s defence, starting in the 2024-25 season.
Little was known in South Africa about the Angolan international, who Chiefs said they had tracked for a long time, but having been born in Portugal and honed his skills at clubs like Vila Real in 2014 before short stints at Felgueiras and Braga B, a Portugal-based intermediary feels that is enough to succeed at Naturena.
Will Miguel Inacio be a success at Kaizer Chiefs?
“I think Chiefs have made a good signing,” Nadime Mahmoud, who has links with African Stars Academy, told KickOff.
“Based on the clubs that he went to for his development, it shows that he has a good base to make him succeed at Chiefs.
“If he played for Braga’s B team, he is worth it because you don’t play for that team if you are not good.
“To end up at Braga is massive because to me, Braga is one the best academies in the country after Benfica. His development process is very good.”
The defender has lots of experience in Europe
After Braga, Inacio moved to Romania in 2019 to play for Universitatea Cluj, where he lasted two years, before returning to Portugal for a one-year stint with second division side Mafra.
He briefly played for Liepaja in Latvia in 2022 after which he moved to Angolan giants Petro de Luanda last year, lasting one season before the switch to Chiefs.
Mahmoud feels the defender will lift Chiefs to higher standards but that will only happen if Nabi has a quality team.
“I believe this new Chiefs signing is worth it. What will determine his success at Chiefs is the kind of team that they have there.”
