What the Siya crew has been told…

Siya sources have indicated that Kaizer Chiefs will leverage their relationship with Swallows FC to try and conclude the transfer of Njabulo Ngcobo.

The potential sale is far from being a done deal, with the 2020/21 season having just recently passed the halfway mark, and the Dube Birds needing the highly sought-after defender to maintain his consistency and focus.

But it’s understood that the player is aware of interest from both Amakhosi and defending league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns.

And it’s the Glamour Boys who’ve stepped up their pursuit of the 26-year-old, given the urgency to recruit new players knowing that the FIFA ban will finally be lifted in July. The ban has been a huge blow for Gavin Hunt this campaign, and the serial-winning coach is adamant on making changes.

Chiefs, as made public by coach Hunt on several occasions, will undergo a squad review at the end of the 2020/21 campaign and it is expected there will be brutal cuts – as many as 10 players have not yet had their contracts renewed.

Ramahlwe Mphahlele, the new Amakhosi skipper and a centre-back, is on the list of players whose futures are still to be decided.

In the meantime, Ngcobo has then been earmarked by the club to be one of the new faces. Siya sources have revealed that Amakhosi are prepared to offer Swallows players plus cash for their central defender, in order to sweeten the deal.

That’s where Given Thibedi could come into the picture.

In recent times, the Dube Birds have relied on Chiefs to improve their squad and are reaping the rewards with midfielder Thibedi, another one of their star performers under coach Brandon Truter.

Thibedi, 23, joined Swallows on loan from Amakhosi last season along with four other young players. But it was his agreement that was extended for another year after the Dube Birds were promoted to the topflight.

The Siya crew reported in November last year that Swallows wanted to hold on to Thibedi outright, and it’s understood that he could be part of the deal to bring Ngcobo to Naturena.

Chiefs, sources say, know how much Swallows value Ngcobo and are prepared to offer “other players” and cash as a sweetener, and the fact that Sifiso Hlanti and Kgaogelo Sekgota were allowed to join the Dube Birds this season is also a plus!

The duo signed employment contracts at Naturena, but could not be registered due to the FIFA ban, so they have been “parked” at their Soweto neighbours for the 2020/21 season.