Seema wants fresh blood at Chippa United
Coach Lehlohonolo Seema is aiming to inject some youthful exuberance into his Chippa United squad for the new season.
Chippa have cleared out all of 15 players at the Port Elizabethbased side.
On Monday, the Chilli Boys announced the termination of contracts for Zimbabwean twins Kevin and Elvis Moyo, Lehlohonolo Masalesa, Phetso Maphanga, Ryan Baartman and William Twala.
Chippa also opted not to renew the contracts of Thabo Rakhale, Boikanyo Komane and Gerald Modisane which have lapsed.
The club further declared that on-loan Orlando Pirates trio of Diamond Thopola, Tercious Malepe and Meshack Maphangule would not be returning to Chippa as their deals had lapsed.
Athini Jodwana and Ronaldo Maarman will be loaned out for the 2020/2021 season while Ruzaigh Gamildien signed with Swallows.
Seema, 40, said the clearance was brought about by the need to bring in young blood.
“When I arrived here Rakhale was already gone, William Twala unfortunately got injured just before I started and when we started the bubble he had to do his rehabilitation at home,” the former Bloemfontein mentor said.
“Some of the players ... the talks were already there and when I looked at the list of players whose contracts were coming to an end, and, having assessed them during the six matches in the bio-bubble, they gave me an idea.
“In the back of my mind, before I joined Chippa, there were areas where I wanted to introduce new players because football is changing every day.
“For a club of Chippa’s calibre, I think it’s unfair for the chairman to be fighting relegation every year after putting in so much to help the coach that is in charge.
“So I spoke to the chairman and said I need a little bit of young blood and a new energy in the team.”
But he says he still wants to keep the likes of Kurt Lentjies, Andlie Mbenyana and Veli Mothwa as their experience was needed to help mentor the youngsters coming in.
“You have to look and try to find balance, but I must say there are some good players that we also acquired, but most of them will be unknown players that will be making their debut in the PSL.
“But I think it’s the right material that we can work with and I think it’s the material that can bring glory days back to Chippa United.”
Seema said he was looking more at getting local talent, not necessarily just from Port Elizabeth, but from the entire Eastern Cape.
“I only realised when I got here that the Eastern Cape is so big.
“It’s very unfortunate that, because of Covid-19, we couldn’t go deeper in areas where we can unleash the talent, but I strongly believe that this province is big enough to get to be representing the team here.
“If you want to bring the supporters back to the stadiums you must have their own on the field, but also to bring hope to the young players in the province, because if you check Eastern Cape players most of them — wherever they are playing — they are good players.
“You can see that the talent is there in the province but we must just find the right channel of sourcing them.”