What the Siya crew has been told…

Siya source close to the player have indicated that the player is highly frustrated as a professional footballer, after losing his place at club level and in the national set-up. In addition, indications are that Tower is fully committed at training and gives it his all, and believes that he does do enough at training to be selected in the coach’s starting line-up.

According to the Siya sources, Tower’s lack of game-time has affected his focus on the field and in his life in general. The source suggested that Tower has his doubts on whether Solinas believes in him and his abilities.

The sources explained that Mathoho wants to play regularly and contribute to Chiefs’ progress, believing that he has a lot to offer as an experienced player. As one of the senior players at the club, and as one of the highest earners at Chiefs, it has been suggested that Mathoho is frustrated in seeing younger players playing week-in and week-out while he watches from the sidelines.

However, digging deeper, the sources have suggested that Tower’s frustrations stem back to 2015.

“The guy has been through a lot. You must remember that not long ago (November 2015), he survived a hijacking in Pretoria (Mathoho was driving with his brother and sister in Atteridgeville at the time when three gunmen robbed them of his car and their personal belongings. The player’s car was later recovered by the police),” explained the source.

The source went on to reference the red cards he received last season. “He has been down about his situation. Look where he comes from. He was a regular in the Chiefs and Bafana Bafana starting line-ups, and doing well as one of the best defenders in the country – look where he is now. One thing is for sure, the guy was seriously affected by the red cards he got for club and country, and that hasn’t assisted him in recovering from (his) loss of form,” said the source.

According to the news filtering through, Ngezana and Cardoso are Solinas’ first choice pairing in central defence and Booysen is seen as the first point of reference to replace either of the two. That has left Tower to battle it out with Teenage Hadebe, down in the pecking order, though Hadebe has just recovered from injury and, when fully fit, is expected to challenge for a starting berth.

Tower’s situation could get worse in January, with Lorenzo Gordinho’s return to Naturena on the cards. Chiefs wanted Gordinho back ahead from his loan spell with Bloemfontein Celtic ahead of the 2018/19 season.

“Kaizer Chiefs have sent a letter to Bloemfontein Celtic requesting for Lorenzo Gordinho’s early release from his loan spell with the club. The defender joined the Bloemfontein-based side in January 2018 for a negotiated period of 12 months,” the club stated on their website at the time.

Chiefs’ intent is clear, that they want Gordinho to play for them, and if Tower’s situation remains unchanged, it could see the former league winner in sixth place in the pecking order.

The Siya crew has been informed that Chiefs’ PSL rivals are aware of Tower’s current situation and that Orlando Pirates and Sundowns have both enquired about his availability behind the scenes. According to the sources, both Pirates and Downs are monitoring Tower’s progress and ready to jump at the opportunity to sign the player, should it arise.

It’s not the first time that the Buccaneers and the Brazilians have been linked to Mathoho, and could lure him on board this time around, should Chiefs be open to parting ways with the player. According to the source, it could be as early as the January transfer window.

Tower is under contract until June 30, 2020, and as it stands, the club is in control of the player’s immediate future. However, he will enter into the last year of his exiting deal at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, and would be in a position to sign a pre-contract elsewhere in January of 2020.

If he is no longer in Chiefs’ plans, the club could look to sell him or entertain a swap deal in January, and avoid losing him on a free altogether.

Attempts have been made to get a comment from the club on Mathoho and his situation, however, Chiefs’ Corporate Communications Manager Vina Maphosa had not replied to the Siya crew’s communications at the time of going to print.