‘Smiling Assassin’ yearns for Europe
KAIZER Chiefs fans’ hopes of seeing Knowledge Musona convert his status at the club from loan to permanent have been dealt a hammer blow.
The “Smiling Assassin” has dampened that expectation by declaring that he still wants another stab at the German Bundesliga when his loan spell at Amakhosi expires at the end of the season.
Musona, 23, seems to be regaining his lethal form of old. The striker has scored four goals for the Absa Premiership champions in their past six league matches.
The Zimbabwe international also chipped in with the winner, deep into extra time, when the Nedbank Cup kings were made to sweat before eliminating Black Leopards in the last 32 of the competition last Sunday.
However, Musona said he has unfinished business at Hoffenheim, the club with whom he signed a five-year deal in 2011.
“My aim has always been to come to SA to get my confidence back with the help of coach Stuart Baxter, and go back to Europe,” he said.
Musona returned to his former club, Chiefs, on a seasonlong deal after enduring a frustrating two years trying to make a name for himself in the German top flight.
“I think I have grown and have had the experience of playing in Germany, although it was tough. My club is keeping an eye on me and I am looking forward to going back,” he said.
Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has been trying to pull strings to make Musona’s loan spell permanent. Musona has been registered in the Caf Champions League and his departure would mean Amakhosi would be one key player short, should they reach the group stages.
Baxter said: “It was a slow start for him here, but everybody knew he was undoubtedly a good player. But he hadn’t done any work with me and had to first understand the way we play. That takes about eight games. It’s taken Knowledge the time it should take to adapt and he is firing now.
“He understands what we want. He could leave, but I hope I haven’t brought him back to a level where other people think he is attractive again. We will try do everything we can to keep him at the club. My mother used to say ‘never borrow sorrow from tomorrow’, so we’ll get on with it.”
Musona said: “In my first year in Germany, Holger Stanislawski wanted to introduce me slowly, but got fired by Hoffenheim halfway through the season.
“Things fell apart for me. His replacement had no idea who I was and who signed me. I was then loaned out to Augsburg, and it was much the same story.
“The coach played me for at least 10 minutes of every match in the first half of the season, but then also got fired.
“The new coach didn’t give me a chance. I’ve been on the same page with Baxter and I will take back the patience and advice.”