For three seasons, Yusuf Maart was the heartbeat of Kaizer Chiefs. As the club’s captain and midfield anchor, he carried the weight of a legacy on his shoulders, finally etching his name into Amakhosi folklore with the decisive goal in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final that ended the club’s agonizing decade-long trophy drought.
However, in May 2026, the midfielder finally broke his silence on the “tug-of-war” that led to his departure for the Austrian Bundesliga side SV Ried. In a candid interview with SoccerBeat, Maart detailed the internal resistance he faced at Naturena and the bold ultimatum he had to give to ensure his European dream didn’t slip through his fingers.
The Call from Austria: Groundwork in Secret
While many supporters were blindsided by his exit in July 2025, Maart revealed that the groundwork for the move began long before the previous season had even concluded.
“It was about three months before the 2024/25 league ended,” Maart explained. “SV Ried called me for a Zoom meeting with my agent, Karabo Tshabuse, and they asked if I was willing to come. I told them if everything is good, why not?”
At the time, SV Ried were still fighting for promotion in the Austrian second division, but their unwavering confidence in reaching the top flight—and their specific plan for Maart—convinced the 30-year-old that it was time to “take the next step.”
Chiefs’ Reluctance: “We Need You for More Seasons”
Having just secured silverware for the club and serving as the locker room’s primary leader, Chiefs’ management and technical staff were understandably desperate to keep hold of their skipper. When Maart approached the club about the possibility of a European move, the response was one of firm disagreement.
“The Chiefs coaches asked me to stay,” Maart admitted. “They said, ‘Yusuf, let’s see, because we need you for a few more seasons.’ They disagreed with the timing. But for me, at my age, I knew the window to experience Europe was closing. It was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss.”
The Turning Point: The Netherlands Ultimatum
The situation reached a breaking point just as Kaizer Chiefs were preparing to jet off to the Netherlands for their 2025 pre-season tour. While Maart had returned from his holiday in Cape Town and had been training with Amakhosi for nearly three weeks, his heart was already in Austria.
In a move that stunned the hierarchy, Maart requested a face-to-face meeting with Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jnr on the very morning the squad was set to leave for Europe.
“I told Junior that I’m not going with them,” Maart recounted. “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. You won’t get the same Yusuf Maart that gave everything for the club over the last few seasons.”
This was the ultimate gamble. Maart refused to board the plane, opting instead to stay behind in South Africa and train in isolation for two weeks while the two clubs finalized the transfer fee and contractual details.
Vindication in the Bundesliga
The gamble paid off. Maart eventually completed his move to SV Ried and has since vindicated his decision by becoming an indispensable regular in the Austrian Bundesliga. As of May 2026, Maart has played over 30 games across all competitions, helping Ried maintain a strong position at the top of their group in the league.
His exit, though dramatic, was born of a desire for personal growth and a sense of duty to himself. “I had to be fair to the club,” Maart noted. “If I stayed while my focus was elsewhere, I wouldn’t have been doing the jersey or the fans justice.”
| Statistic (2025/26 Season) | Value |
| Appearances (All Comps) | 30 |
| Minutes Played | ~2,550 |
| Role | Midfield Anchor / Deep Playmaker |
| Current League Standing | 1st (Group B, Austrian Bundesliga) |
The Legacy Left Behind
Despite the friction of his exit, Maart remains a celebrated figure among the Amakhosi faithful. His 40-yard wondergoal against Orlando Pirates in the 2022 derby and his trophy-winning strike in 2025 are moments that will live forever in the club’s history books.
For Yusuf Maart, the “leap of faith” to Austria wasn’t an act of betrayal, but a necessary chapter in a career that has spanned the biggest clubs in South Africa. Now, as he eyes potential interest from clubs like FC Dinamo Bucharest, the “Professor” of the midfield is proving that his mind, once made up, is capable of conquering any stage.
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