Kaizer Chiefs’ current transfer hit rate Ent
In late 2020, this publication did a deep dive into Kaizer Chiefs’ transfers over the previous seven transfer windows prior to a FIFA transfer ban. At
the time, it was deemed that of the 23 players acquired, only seven had been a success, whilst the other 16 turned out to be flops. Whilst coach Gavin Hunt was unable to make any additions to his squad, subsequent coaches have been heavily backed by the club in the transfer window… even if the head coaches don’t always get much say of who comes through the door. Some three years later, it’s time for an update. How many of the 29 players signed over the last five transfers windows have met expectations so far? How
many have failed due to poor scouting or any reasons? In this feature, Soccer Laduma reviews every addition and hands out SUCCESS, FLOP, JURY STILL OUT verdicts.
The former Montpellier playmaker is arguably the biggest signing made by the side since they recruited Khama Billiat from Mamelodi Sundowns. He had not played much in the four previous years, but after a few slow matches, he had an excellent first six months under Stuart Baxter. At one point, he scored six goals and added five assists in a brilliant 10-game streak. His form dipped in the second half of the season, especially once Arthur Zwane took charge and played him deeper or on the left. Last term, he netted six goals, but his form was inconsistent and he lost his Bafana Bafana place. In April, a serious knee injury meant six months on the treatment table. Considering the Westbury-born man is said to be earning close to R1 million a month, that was an expensive time for Amakhosi to be getting no return on their investment. His signing was a risk and it’s only paid off for short periods of hot form.
VERDICT: SUCCESS, but injuries or continued average performances could still see him regarded as a flop by the time he departs the club.
Phathutshedzo Nange
After some great displays in the bio-bubble for Bidvest Wits and then five goals ‘on loan’ at Stellenbosch FC, the lanky star looked a smart addition. His first season at the Naturena-based side was largely very good. He excelled under Baxter in a deeper role thanks to his penetrative passing to find Dolly between the lines. That season ended with him getting a Bafana debut in the away loss to Morocco, such was his form at club level. Last season, he was barely used by Zwane with just 142 minutes of pitch time as injuries also played a major part. His signing made sense, but Chiefs arguably signed him two years too late.
VERDICT: FLOP, with injuries taking their toll and Zwane not trusting or rating him as a player.
Kgaogelo Sekgota
The winger returned to local shores after his time in Europe and joined Wits. He didn’t play much football there and his ‘loan’ at Moroka Swallows gave him some much-needed experience. At the Soweto giants, he got a few starts under Baxter, but the coach wasn’t really using wingers. In fact, Sekgota started one game on the right of a midfield diamond. There were no goals or assists in his first season, but some strong form under Zwane saw him handed three outings for the national team. Zwane gave him zero starts after the World Cup break for an unknown reason and he was released from his contract a year early to join Stellies.
VERDICT: FLOP. He had six good months in two seasons, but he was always a gamble based on potential. It simply did not work out.
Sibusiso Mabiliso
The left back was one of nine signings made prior to 2021/22 and arguably looked the best addition overall at the time. He had experience despite being just 22 and had played very well for AmaZulu FC under Benni McCarthy. He joined on a three-year deal, but Baxter simply didn’t rate him and his successor didn’t really use him either. He managed just 160 minutes in total for the side having been in Hugo Broos’ Bafana plans initially. After one season, his contract was terminated. The player maintains he was never injured at Chiefs, so he paid the price for the coaches not rating him and the club signing Sifiso Hlanti at the same time.
VERDICT: FLOP. His addition seemed sensible, but it simply didn’t work out.
Cole Alexander
The arrival of Baxter meant a threeyear contract for the British coach’s trusted soldier. He started 10 of the first 16 games in his first campaign, doing a relatively steady job in midfield. After a two-month injury, he came back and was even trusted by ‘10111’ as he got five starts in seven fixtures under the caretaker coach. His second season saw several factors to blame for his lack of minutes. There were injuries, the coach didn’t rate him and the new signings in the engine room suited the style of play better. His deal was mutually ended with a year left.
VERDICT: FLOP. Amakhosi backed Baxter’s judgement, but the coach was gone less than one year into Alexander’s three-year contract.
Sifiso Hlanti
The experienced left back was signed a year before Baxter was appointed, but he benefitted from the coach knowing him from international duty. His start at Naturena was strong and he earned a recall to the national team fold. An injury ended his season in November and he spent nine months on the sidelines. Upon his return, Zwane trusted him and was rewarded with most reliable performances. We saw more defensive issues arise as the season went on and those troubles have also been seen this term. He always felt like a stopgap addition and it was probably a mistake to renew his contract under Molefi Ntseki.
VERDICT: FLOP. This is a tough one, but Hlanti’s long-term injury absence and recent displays have tilted this signing more towards being a flop than a success.
Njabulo Ngcobo
He was signed after winning the PSL Defender of the Season award. Sadly, things have not worked out for him. His first few months saw him playing as a defensive midfielder under Baxter, where he looked promising. His campaign ended with some big mistakes and a public fallout with Zwane. His second season saw a run of 24 games without starting and plenty of mistakes, including against Stellenbosch, Sundowns and Swallows. He’s had a few games this term but can’t win a regular spot.
VERDICT: FLOP. With how his second season went, he is arguably fortunate still to be a Chiefs player.
Austin Dube
There is not much to be said here. He was signed at the age of 28 having never played a single match in the topflight. Baxter handed him 11 starts in 23 league fixtures in charge despite his debut seeing two errors in a loss to Sundowns. Under Zwane, Dube made just two appearances in 44 matches as he was basically frozen out. He was allowed to leave in June despite having a year left on his deal.
VERDICT: FLOP. He never looked like a Chiefs-quality player and his signing made no logical sense.
Brandon Petersen
He arrived at the club after a serious injury and with fewer career games under his belt than you may have thought (just 49 top-flight appearances). He’s surprisingly been the captain this season. His first campaign was a slow burner, but he managed 10 clean sheets under Zwane in 21 starts. Unfortunately, last season ended with two bad mistakes. This season has been one to forget for the goalkeeper. Although he has made some top saves, there have been a number of howlers to cost the team points and his confidence looks totally depleted.
VERDICT: FLOP. There is still time to turn things around, though.
Ashley Du Preez
A R10 million signing, so big things were expected. His signing made sense for his age, pace and potential. His first season was steady initially as a winger, creating a fair few goals. He came into his own when Zwane moved him to a central striker role and he began scoring more often. Overall, he netted nine goals in 2022/23. This term has sadly seen a few injuries, but when he is fit, he often completely carries the Chiefs attack. He is a consistent weapon and works extremely hard off the ball too. There is clearly a lot more to come from him.
VERDICT: SUCCESS . He is o ne of the club’s most important players.
Christian Saile
As mentioned in a recent feature, Saile has shown plenty of flashes at the Glamour Boys so far. He’s unfortunately been used out of position too often. Instead of playing as a right winger, we’ve seen him through the middle or down the left. His early impact saw some goals and assists and drawing a red card in the Soweto Derby. When he enters as a substitute, he can have a big impact. He looked a very shrewd signing from the Zambian league and brings exploit’s sivity to the frontline.
VERDICT: SUCCESS, but still early days and Chiefs should be using him more effectively.
Yusuf Maart
A R5 million signing from Sekhukhune United, he came in to reunderperforming fresh an ageing and midfield. His first season saw him as an undisputed starter as he was named in the XI for 34 of the club’s 37 encounters. Without doubt, he gave some impressive displays, but his conSome sistency was lacking at times. of that is down to playing as a lone six, in a double pivot, as a number eight or even as a number 10 of sorts. His best role is not totally clear yet. He has again played well this season, but he does need to do more in terms of creating goals and helping Chiefs to win matches.
VERDICT: SUCCESS, but we still need to see even more from him.
Zitha Kwinika
Another signing from Stellies, his return to Amakhosi for R3 million was meant to solidify a stale and old defence. He played plenty of minutes last season, but he lost his place at one stage and Zwane seemingly began to doubt his credentials as a central defender. He moved to right back to good effect at times. The club’s decision to go and sign three new centre-backs is a sign that they don’t have full trust in Kwinika and he has basically been a rotation or fringe option since March under three different coaches.
VERDICT: FLOP. Sadly, it’s hard to see
Siyethemba Sithebe
Following a six-month wait to join Chiefs after signing a pre-contract, the 29-year-old finally arrived. He initially played regularly and started the first 10 games last season. However, he was often used in quite an attacking role where he had little effect beyond some wayward shooting. He had a long spell out of the team but ended last season doing quite a strong job in a double pivot. This season, he has basically been a non-entity after two new central midfielders were signed. It’s hard to see him lasting much longer at the club, sadly. He was arguably signed a couple of years too late.
VERDICT: FLOP, but he has done a reastop-gap sonable job in the engine room.
Kamohelo Mahlatsi
The skilful attacking midfielder lasted one season at Naturena. ‘Mangethe’ only handed him 218 minutes on the pitch with two starts, both as a narrow left winger. He did not impress in those outings. His addition was also a bit of a punt, as the hope of him fulfilling the potential of his teenage years has never materialised. He lacked the physicality, experience and durability to make it at the best-supwas ported club in the land. VERDICT: FLOP. He released early and never looked like anything more than a hopeful gamble.
Dillan Solomons
The Soweto giants went and beat Royal AM to the signing of Solomons from Swallows. He was recruited on the back of 12 matches as a right back for the Dube Birds. Zwane initially used him regularly and his form was quite mixed to say the least. He ended last season out of favour, with Reeve Frosler and Kwinika preferred to him. This term has seen Solomons as a back-up player with hardly any minutes on the pitch. Neither Ntseki nor Cavin Johnson seem to trust him defensively in his recently-converted right back role and his outings as a winger have been very underwhelming. Like many others, there wasn’t enough shown at his previous club to justify a move to Chiefs and he probably won’t be in the squad by the start of next season. VERDICT: FLOP. He gives his all, but a move to Chiefs was a step too far for him.
George Matlou
The attacking number eight showed flashes of his creativity and dribbling at Swallows. He ended that season with the Birds only starting two of the final 11 fixtures as injuries took their toll. That proved a precursor to the same fitness problems at Amakhosi. He initially had a top outing under Zwane against Maritzburg United, but he could only get five starts in his first season, with none of those coming after late October. This season saw a streak of nice displays as a number eight, but just as he threatened to become a regular starter, injuries hit again. The signing of Sibongiseni Mthethwa makes it hard for Matlou to start matches in future.
VERDICT: FLOP, but he could still prove a success if he can stay fit and win a starting place. The talent is there.
Edmilson Dove
After a serious knee injury and dip in form at Cape Town City, the club took the plunge on signing the Mozambican. Every single one of his outings last season were as a central defender as Zwane showed full trust in him. There were some Man of the Match displays as he proved a strong and aggressive marker on his good days. Unfortunately, there were quite a few bad mistakes too. Most of those were loose passes in the build-up, which led to goals. It says a lot that Chiefs signed Thatayaone Ditlhokwe in the position which Dove occupied last term. He has played left back for the most part this season, but his athleticism isn’t what it was and a fullback role may no longer suit him. VERDICT: JURY STILL OUT. The next six months could see him starting regularly or being shown the door. That will dictate how this transfer is remembered.
Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana
The Burundian striker spent many weeks on trial at Chiefs before finally being handed a three-year contract. He started really well and looked like the real deal with seven goals in his first seven games started (four of those from the penalty spot). His finishing was a bit wild and he tended to miss lots of clear openings, but the potential was clear to see. However, once the World Cup break came, he was frozen out by Zwane and the duo clearly had a breakdown in their relationship. Ntseki looked set to give him another look, but his deal was instead terminated two years early!
VERDICT: FLOP, but he actually looked promising and the club should have retained his services for at least one year to see how he developed.