“I wish to Play for Chiefs” – Amajita Star Smythe-Lowe Eyes Future with Amakhosi
Staff Reporter
Fresh from a historic triumph with South Africa’s U-20 national team, promising goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe is keeping the door open for a potential return to his roots—possibly donning the jersey of his childhood favourites, Kaizer Chiefs.
The 18-year-old shot-stopper, currently honing his craft in Portugal with Estoril Praia’s U-19 squad, played a pivotal role in Amajita’s victorious campaign at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. His outstanding performances between the posts not only helped South Africa secure a 1-0 win over Morocco in the final at Cairo’s June 30 Stadium, but also earned him the coveted Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.
Speaking at OR Tambo International Airport, where Amajita received a jubilant welcome from fans and family, Smythe-Lowe admitted he hasn’t ruled out a move to the Premier Soccer League in the future—particularly to Amakhosi.
"I grew up supporting Kaizer Chiefs, so that will always be a special club for me,” he said. “You never know what the future holds.”
Despite his rising profile, Smythe-Lowe remains grounded. After a whirlwind tournament in Egypt, his immediate focus is on recovery and continued development.
“My plan now is to get back to Portugal, take a short break, and then get back to training,” he said. “I'm still young—only 18—so there's time to grow. My big goal is to be ready for the U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.”
His football journey took an unexpected turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially moving to Portugal with his family during his mother’s sabbatical, Smythe-Lowe had no concrete plans of pursuing a professional career at the time.
“We had been to Portugal before, and during the pandemic in 2020, my mom took a sabbatical and we decided to relocate,” he explained. “I was playing for Ubuntu in Cape Town before we left, but honestly, I wasn’t focused on football professionally then. Things changed when I started putting in the work and opportunities followed.”
Now firmly on the radar of international scouts, and with silverware and accolades already under his belt, the future looks bright for the young keeper—whether it unfolds in Europe, South Africa, or on the world stage in Chile.
