What the Siya crew has been told…

In planning big for next season and showing their full support for coach Ernst Middendorp, Kaizer Chiefs have granted the German his request to lure midfielder Fortune Makaringe from Maritzburg United. Siya sources have confirmed to the crew that an offer has been tabled to the Team of Choice for the player, although Amakhosi are well aware they aren’t the only interested party keen to land the 25-year-old Bafana Bafana international. For some time, indications were that Orlando Pirates and Maritzburg had agreed a deal in principle for the sale of Makaringe, but insiders have now indicated that their Soweto rivals Chiefs have joined the race in a big way and are prepared for what could be a photo-finish for the players’ signature. Middendorp is said to be an admirer of Makaringe and has all but instructed the club’s management to go all out in an attempt to get the deal over the line. What is unclear at the moment is just how much Chiefs are prepared to spend on his transfer fee, which could rise seeing that there’s a race for the player. To add to the tussle, Siya sources have also told the crew that Mamelodi Sundowns are not entirely out of the picture either. And with their deep pockets, they may very well be frontrunners if Makaringe is looking for a big payday and backs himself to compete with their galaxy of stars. Pirates may have had the upper hand given they are the club to have most recently completed successful negotiations with Maritzburg during the January transfer window when striker Thabiso Kutumela made the surprise move to the Team of Choice on a three-year contract. It is believed it is then that a deal – only in principle – for Makaringe moving the other way could have been proposed. Siya sources also confirmed to the crew that Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza had a word, then, with his Maritzburg counterpart, Farouk Kadodia, about the player, but nothing was finalised. When approached for comment, Kadodia told the Siya crew that the club has asked their PSL rivals to give them space until the end of the season. “We are focusing on our situation at the moment and have pleaded with teams interested in our players to give us until the end of the season before we start talking about player movements,” he said, referring to their current relegation dogfight as Maritzburg battle to hold on to their topflight status with two games remaining in the Absa Premiership. Meanwhile, indications are that there is no clear frontrunner for Makaringe – so expect the two Soweto giants to go toeto-toe, with Sundowns, who are backed by their billionaire owner Patrice Motsepe, also joining the race.