Kaizer Chiefs have official confirmed that their youth development academy has been temporarily closed due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Glamour Boys announced that all academy, youth and reserve (Multichoice Diski Challenge) team players have been released and allowed to return home.

Kaizer Chiefs have released the following statement:

‘In the wake of the global outbreak of the Corona virus (COVID-19), the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy has been temporarily closed.

‘The Club’s U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 teams’ fixtures in the Safa Gauteng Development League have been suspended, as a result of the South African Football Association calling for all Football to be suspended.

‘Players who are part of the Club’s full-time residency programme, housed at the Kaizer Chiefs village in Naturena South of Johannesburg have been released and allowed to return home.

‘The Chiefs Reserve team players have also been asked to stay home as the Multichoice Diski Challenge [MDC league] has been discontinued for the rest of the season.

‘The Chiefs U-17 team will no longer be participating in the Bay Hill Premier Cup which was meant to be taking place in Cape Town from the 8th – 13th April. Event organisers have cancelled the annual tournament.

‘Chiefs will provide further updates as to when the players in the academy will return to training and when their fixtures will resume.’