CAF Champions League finalists Kaizer Chiefs are finally breathing a sigh of relief as their two-window transfer ban ended yesterday.
For the past two transfer windows, Chiefs were not allowed to register new players after Fifa punished them over the signing of Malagasy player Andriamirado “Dax” Andrianarimanana. They appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but lost that appeal in October last year.
For all their struggles domestically, amid the transfer ban, Chiefs still managed to reach the Champions League final, where they will face Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly at Mohammed V Stadium in Morocco on July 17.
The club’s mediocre form on the domestic front resulted in the sacking of decorated coach Gavin Hunt before the last two games against Golden Arrows and TS Galaxy, which they won to somehow secure a Top 8 berth.
Hunt, who had joined Chiefs at the start of the season, never stopped attributing the side’s below-par league form to the fact that he couldn’t sign his own players. Before the outcome of the CAS appeal, the four-time league-winning coach had identified Sifiso Hlanti, Phathutshedzo Nange and Brando Petersen among his potential first signings at Naturena.
The trio, who Hunt coached at the now extinct Bidvest Wits, had already started training with Chiefs before having to leave Naturena in the wake of the CAS ruling. With the nightmare finally over, Sibusiso Mabiliso, Njabulo Ngcobo and Kgaogelo Sekgotla are expected to headline the list of Chiefs’ new signings. Hlanti, Nange and Petersen are also expected to follow suit.
As Amakhosi head into what’s undoubtedly their biggest game in their history against Al Ahly, fans will be pleased to hear that the eight players whose deals were lapsing yesterday will be available for the final. This was revealed by the club’s spokesperson Vina Maphosa yesterday.
These players are Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma‚ Mulomowandau Mathoho‚ Willard Katsande‚ Lebogang Manyama‚ Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ Khama Billiat and Bernard Parker. Maphosa was reluctant to divulge the details of the players’ new agreement with the club.
“All these players will be available for the final... I am confirming that and I can’t talk about the details of our agreements. If there’s a new update, we’ll let you know,” said Maphosa.
Sowetan understands these players and the club agreed to a one-month deal, hoping to negotiate further after the final. But huge changes are on the cards, irrespective of what happens in Morocco in two weeks, with new arrivals and departures set to feature at Naturena.
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