According to SABC Sport, two exciting young attackers Gomolemo “Giggs” Khuto and Lucky Bule were invited to Naturena last week, and could have been snapped up by Chiefs. However, a deal has instead been struck between Pirates and Orbit College in Rustenburg for the two players to head into the Buccaneers system.
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“Yes, it is true, the boys trained with the Chiefs reserve team for three days last week and they were impressed with them, but unfortunately they were slow to react and Pirates came back to finalize the deal,” Orbit College head coach Pogiso Makhoye told SABC Sport.
“You will recall that Pirates spotted the boys first during the Pirates Cup, which was held in Johannesburg, but according to them, they were waiting for us to complete the ABC Motsepe play-offs.
“During that period, Chiefs also came into the picture and that’s how the boys ended up in Naturena for assessment. But we are now happy to have concluded with Pirates, who have also compensated us appropriately for developing the boys.”
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Chiefs and Pirates are both rebuilding their squads
Soweto rivals Chiefs and Pirates have unveiled a host of new player signings as both teams undergo a rebuilding process.
With preparations for the 2022/23 season already in full swing, Chiefs have added five more players to the squad, with the arrival of Dillan Solomons, Kamohelo Mahlatsi and Lehlogonolo George Matlou from Swallows FC, Siyethemba Sithebe from AmaZulu, and the official promotion of Mduduzi Shabalala from the Chiefs Reserve side set to bolster the Glamour Boys’ quest for glory.
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Having already secured the services of Ashley Du Preez and Zitha Kwinika for the next three years earlier this month, Chiefs management and the technical team have been hard at work to try and acquire the right players to fit into the system that will hopefully bring DStv Premiership success in the coming season.
Right-sided defender cum wingback, Solomons, is 26 years old and hails from Steenberg in Cape Town. He played 29 matches for Swallows in the last season and was involved in all the four play-off matches for the Dube Birds. He has penned a four-year deal at Naturena.
Joining him is 23-year-old Mahlatsi, a talented attacking midfielder from Sebokeng in the Vaal Triangle, who has signed with Amakhosi until 2025.
Matlou, also 23, makes up the trio of players leaving Swallows for Chiefs. The midfielder has signed a two-year contract with an option for a year’s extension.
After making headlines earlier this year as an exciting playmaker, Chiefs have managed to attract Newcastle-born Siyethemba Sithebe from AmaZulu on a two-year deal running from 1 July until 30 June 2024.
One of the really talented prospects from the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy, Mduduzi Shabalala has impressed sufficiently to be rewarded with a senior team contract for three years after spending the last few seasons in the Reverse team. The diminutive and quick player also plays as an attacking midfielder. Towards the end of last season, he was invited to a trial at Belgian club, KVC Westerlo, where he impressed. He also spent time in Spain with Villareal, who had taken notice of his stellar performances in the Cosafa U20 Championship.
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Last week, Orlando Pirates confirmed the signing of four more players as the Buccaneers continue squad planning for next season, namely Evidence Makgopa, Bienvenu Eva Nga, Miguel Timm and Azola Matrose.
The quartet will form part of pre-season preparations, and this news comes soon after it was confirmed they had reached an agreement with Golden Arrows for the transfer of Nkosinathi Sibisi.
Pirates also recently confirmed the signing of another defender, 27-year-old Tapelo Xoki, as he joins the club from AmaZulu.
