The father of Kaizer Chiefs winger Faiz Abrahams says his son has withdrawn from family and friends, leaving them concerned about the 21-year-old’s wellbeing.
Muneer Abrahams said the player rarely communicates with those closest to him and believes his current difficulties go beyond football.
“It’s much deeper than that and definitely something with his wellbeing,” Muneer told Kick Off.
“He doesn’t talk to us or anyone for that matter. Even his close friends are left in the dark and don’t know what is going on with him. If he’s not visiting a friend who lives nearby, he’s locked up in his room the whole day.”
The comments come after reports that Abrahams did not return to Kaizer Chiefs training when the squad regrouped on Thursday.
The club travelled to Polokwane for a mini-camp before their Carling Knockout Cup semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, but Abrahams was reportedly not among the players who made the trip.
Muneer said his son had shown similar behaviour during a previous spell away from home, when his loan at Israeli second-division club Hapoel Kfar Saba was cut short.
“During his time in Israel, we noticed similar behaviour. He just went into his shell. He stopped calling us the way he normally would, but we can’t say exactly what caused it,” he said.
“As parents, it’s extremely worrying. We are clueless and don’t know what to do. At the same time, we don’t want to put too much pressure on him because we don’t know how it could affect him. But naturally we’re concerned.”
Reports by KickOff and FARPost have suggested Abrahams has told people close to him that he no longer wants to continue his football career.
One early explanation was that his limited opportunities at Kaizer Chiefs may have contributed to his frustration. The winger has made five appearances since joining the club on a season-long loan from Stellenbosch FC in August 2026, but has not scored or provided an assist.
Muneer also appealed against assumptions being made about his son, saying Abrahams had been brought up with strong values.
“People will probably have their opinions, but the reality is that Faiz comes from a good home. My wife and I raised him with good morals and values.
“Yes, we live in a tough area in Cape Town, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t brought up with respect, discipline and good standards. We also asked ‘Boere’ (Baartman) but even he doesn’t know,” Muneer concluded.
Abrahams’ close friend Luke Baartman, who is known as ‘Boere’, also has no explanation for what the winger is experiencing, according to Muneer.
Kaizer Chiefs have not issued an official statement about the situation as they prepare to face Sundowns.
The immediate priority for Abrahams’ family, however, is his wellbeing rather than his status within the team.
