Maart breaks silence on ‘disagreement’ with Chiefs coaches over Austrian transfer

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart has broken his silence on his high-stakes departure for the Austrian Bundesliga, revealing he had to take a stand against the club’s hierarchy to secure his dream move.

The 30-year-old midfielder stunned the Amakhosi faithful last July when he ditched the Soweto giants for SV Ried. The move came just weeks after Maart had cemented his legacy at Naturena, scoring the decisive goal in the Nedbank Cup final to end the club’s agonising 10-year trophy drought.

Despite his heroics, Maart has now detailed the internal tug-of-war that took place before he eventually swapped the Betway Premiership for the European stage.

Former Kaizer Chiefs Skipper Yusuf Maart Opens Up On Dramatic Exit To Europe

The groundwork for the transfer began long before the 2024/25 campaign concluded. While Chiefs were battling on the pitch, Maart and his representative, Karabo Tshabuse, were already in dialogue with the Austrian outfit.

“It was like three months before the league ended,” Maart told Soccerbeat. “They called me for a Zoom meeting and asked if I was willing to come. I told them if everything is good, why not? I was ready to take the next step.”

Chiefs’ Reluctance to Sell

Having served as the club’s leader and midfield anchor, Chiefs were understandably desperate to keep hold of their captain. The board reportedly tried to block the move, urging the Cape Town-born star to commit his future to the club for “a few more seasons.”

Yusuf Maart, however, was adamant that at 30, the window to test himself in Europe was closing.

“The Chiefs coaches asked me to stay, but I said it’s an opportunity I don’t want to miss out on—playing in Europe and getting how it feels. They disagreed,” Maart admitted.

The situation reached a breaking point just as the squad was preparing for a high-profile pre-season tour of the Netherlands. In a bold move, Maart requested a face-to-face meeting with sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr to confirm he would not be boarding the plane.

“I told Junior that I’m not going with them,” Maart revealed. “I told them that my mind was already made up. As a player, if your mind is made up, you won’t get the same player as before.”

The gamble paid off. While the rest of the squad jetted off to Europe, Yusuf Maart remained at home training in isolation for two weeks until the deal with SV Ried was finally sanctioned.

Since arriving in Austria, the midfielder has vindicated his decision, establishing himself as a mainstay in a Ried side enjoying life in the top flight. For Maart, it was a move born of conviction—even if it meant going head-to-head with the biggest club in South Africa.