Vusumuzi Vilakazi explains Kwayiba revival after Chippa return

The 26-year-old had initially left the Chilli Boys to join the Buccaneers on a reported three-year deal following a standout 2024/25 season with the Gqeberha club.

He scored six goals and provided one assist for Chippa that season and was also called up to the Bafana Bafana squad, where he scored on his first start in a 2-0 international friendly against Mozambique.

However, he failed to break into Pirates starting line-up and match day squads, managing only four substitute appearances before being sidelined by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and subsequently re-joining the Chilli Boys.

Kwayiba has shown his resurgence under Chippa head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi, scoring five goals in eight matches since returning to the Eastern Cape.

"When Kwayiba got back to the team, I had a strong talk with him because I think when he was doing well before he even went to Orlando Pirates, he was scoring goals," said Vilakazi to FARPost.

"He was even called up in the national team because of scoring goals, so when he came here, we needed to work on his psychological aspect in terms of trusting himself and trusting the process."

The attacking midfielder will be crucial to his team's aspirations of avoiding relegation, as they currently lie in 13th position, five points above the playoffs drop zone.

"Sometimes in games that he played, he was not doing very well," added the former Richards Bay mentor.

"but I knew that he's very clinical in front of goal when he gets a chance, so that will give him the motivation going forward, and I'm happy that he's scoring.

"He's still not the best of Kwayiba we know, but with the confidence of scoring, we will definitely get the best out of him."