New Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel will be carrying expectations to emulate the leadership qualities which, arguably, have been missing since the club last won the league title nine years ago.
There have been suggestions of a leadership crisis at Chiefs, with the team struggling to find an inspirational captain since Itumeleng Khune was stripped of the role.
Apart from the armband duties, the side has hot had defenders who are commanding, particularly at centre-back, of late.
Since the combinations of the likes of Erick Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite and Morgan Gould, Amakhosi have struggled to find the same type of centre-backs, who lead from the back and are motivated by the ambition of keeping clean sheets.
After a poor 2023/24, where they finished 10th, the Soweto giants showed familiar vulnerabilities after a 4-0 defeat to Young Africans in the pre-season Toyota Cup.
Previous centre-back signings such as Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango, and to an extent Edmilson Dove, are yet to live up to expectations, with Ditlhokwe already linked with an exit.
Following the signing of Inacio on a three-year contract, ex-Cape Town City goalkeeper Hugo Marques, who played alongside the Angolan at Petro de Luanda, says the 28-year-old will bring leadership qualities and a winning mentality at Naturena.
"Inacio is a kind of player who leads by example, on the field, off the field. When you look at him, you would not want him to do more, he's a beast at work and he likes to win a lot!," Marques told KickOff in a recent exclusive interview.
"His mentality comes from Europe [he spent most of his career there] and also he played his youth football at Braga, a very good club.
"It's a good signing for Chiefs."
With Dove currently injured and Ditlhokwe linked with an exit, new Amakhosi head coach Nasreddine Nabi played Miguel alongside another new signing Rushwin Dortley in the heart of defence during the 2-1 win over Marumo Gallants on Saturday.
The Angolan showed glimpses of his leadership qualities on the day, though was unlucky for the home side's goal to deflect off him before going into the net.