Chiefs hint at more signings in January
Kaizer Chiefs are content with how they have conducted their business during the transfer window but the club's football manager Bobby Motaung has not discounted going back into the market again in January.
Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung (Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix)
Motaung told the club’s website that the five players they brought in and the promotion of youngsters from the development academy was enough to ensure the team’s revival.
“For now, we have what we need in terms of our strategy going forward. We are on track and now our focus is on rolling up our sleeves and working hard to achieve the set objectives,” said Motaung.
“In terms of the new arrivals, we did our planning well in advance before the previous season came to an end. I can say that all the negotiations went very well and we welcomed the five players we needed this season. This is a process; you might find that in the January window period the need might arise to effect some more changes,” he added.
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Motaung also reiterated how difficult it is for them to get the players they need in the transfer market because teams usually increase their asking price once they hear Amakhosi are interested.
“The market is not a bed of roses. We go into the market knowing there will always be challenges but I am happy we found the missing pieces of the puzzle. We had to make changes as part of resolving the challenges we faced last season but also to plan for the continuous improvement of the team,” he said.
Chiefs also made wholesale changes at the end of the season, with 13 players leaving Naturena Village. Of the 13 however, only Teenage Hadebe was sold and Adriamirado Adrianarimanana was loaned out to Black Leopards.
The likes of Bongolethu Jayiya, Pule Ekstein, Gustavo Paez, Ryan Moon and Mario Booysens either had their contracts cut short or were not offered renewals. Some of them came highly recommended and were expected to be among the top performers at Chiefs but failed to clinch regular berths.
“Look, at times players come here on the back of good performances and are highly recommended.
“However, with all intents and purposes, some players fail to make the grade and some with their immense talent can’t adapt to our demanding set-up.
“Pressure takes different forms; it can be competition or simply the overwhelming pressure that comes with the shirt and the badge,” said Motaung.
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