With the January transfer window now shut, Kaizer Chiefs did not bring in a single reinforcement. Whilst Orlando Pirates beefed up with two new additions in speedy Thabiso Lebitso and the creative Thalente Mbatha. Mamelodi Sundowns went out and secured four big-money acquisitions. Large fees were spent on defender Zuko Mdunyelwa, midfielder Matías Esquivel and attacking midfielders Tashreeq Matthews and Thembinkosi Lorch. Did Amakhosi's board simply not want to put their hand in their pocket? Or was there a logical reason behind sticking with what they've got? Soccer Laduma investigates.
Goalkeeper: Get a clear answer
In the poles, it wouldn't have made sense for Kaizer Chiefs to move for a new signing. Firstly, they already have three goalkeepers and with Itumeleng Khune's high salary, the club can't be devoting more of their wage budget to this position. Also, the next three or four months gives an ideal chance to get a clear answer on the three custodians. Bruce Bvuma appears to have renewed his contract for a further two years and is currently the man in possession of the gloves. He needs a run of games to fully determine whether he is of the standard required at the Soweto giants. Brandon Petersen and Khune are into the final few months of their respective deals and the club has already stated that the latter's contract signed last year will be his final playing one. In the off-season, Amakhosi have to decide on whether to move for an undisputed number one or for a specialist number three to back up Bvuma and Petersen. There is a big difference between going for someone like Nigeria number one Stanley Nwabili from Chippa United or Rwandan Fiacre Ntwari from TS Galaxy, and a clear fringe keeper.
VERDICT: CORRECT DECISION. Signing a goalkeeper now would have been a mistake. They need more clarity on Bvuma's quality and the futures of the other two shot-stoppers.
Right back: Nothing needed right now
At right back, the Glamour Boys have plenty of options. Reeve Frosler has largely been the number one, with Zitha Kwinika used in that role on certain occasions. The latter has a year left on the three-year deal signed when he was recruited from Stellenbosch FC. Frosler has performed relatively well this season with signs of increased defensive nous. Another player on the books who is predominantly viewed as a right back is Dillan Solomons. He is yet to convince of his merits in that role for a club like Chiefs, but he still has another two years to run on his agreement. If the club decide that this area needs to be beefed up come June, then a good transfer target could be Tholo Matuludi from Polokwane City. He has excelled this season in defensive, attacking and aerial situations and looks ripe for a move to one of the top outfits.
VERDICT: CORRECT DECISION. There is no current need for a right back and Amakhosi are arguably not going to be in the market for a new fullback on that side for at least another year.
Centre-back: Already overstocked; new signing ready to feature
Many supporters may look at the heart of the defence as a weak area for the Naturena-based side. The fact is that the team has plenty of bodies in that area. One may argue that there is a high quantity but that the quality is questionable. You have Given Msimango, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Njabulo Ngcobo, Edmilson Dove and Kwinika who are all options in that area. The sixth centre-back is Luke Fleurs, who was signed in October 2023 on a free transfer. He is yet to make his debut for the club and is effectively still a new signing. So, whilst Amakhosi didn't sign any players in the January registration window, the supporters do have Fleurs' debut to look forward to. Can he make a big difference? Well, let's look at his credentials. Fleurs is an U23 South African international with 70 DStv Premiership appearances to his name at 23. He started 35 matches at SuperSport United alongside Ditlhokwe, where they formed a strong pairing. That is a benefit for Chiefs as there is a pre-existing chemistry and understanding there. Can Fleurs partner Msimango? Well, both players have played as the left centre-back in the back four on a fair few occasions and could work well as a pair. Both are good characters with leadership qualities and ball-playing abilities. Let's hope Cavin Johnson gets Fleurs on the pitch regularly between now and the end of the season.
VERDICT: CORRECT DECISION. Until we see how Fleurs fit into the Chiefs system, it would be unwise to further block his path with a new signing. The off-season is a chance to re-assess, especially with Ngcobo out of contract.
Left back: An area of concern
Prior to this season, Sifiso Hlanti signed a new one-year contract. The Soweto giants also have Edmilson Dove in that role and you could vaguely include Happy Mashiane too, although his future looks more likely to be as a winger. Whilst the team is well stocked in terms of numbers, left back feels like one area where they could upgrade and see an immediate difference. With AmaZulu FC signing Sifiso Ngobeni on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns, perhaps Usuthu would be open to a lucrative bid for Riaan Hanamub. Another regularly linked option is Fawaaz Basadien, who has done brilliantly for Stellies and is a set-piece specialist too. A further potential target is Cape Town Spurs man, Rushwin Dortley. There is talk that Amakhosi tabled a bid for him last July and Downs have also been linked. He spent some time on trial at FC Nordsjælland in Denmark but was not signed in the end. Although he is perhaps more of a left centre-back for a back three formation, he could play as a stay-at-home fullback at Chiefs, a bit like Sundowns use Abdelmounaim Boutouil.
VERDICT: WRONG DECISION. Arguably, the Glamour Boys should have devoted some transfer funds to at least bidding for Basadien or Hanamub in this window as left back is a problem position right now. Hlanti will almost certainly depart in June and maybe clubs will raise their price as they will know that Chiefs are desperate.
Central midfield: Quality and quantity
Considering the big-money signing of Sibongiseni Mthethwa was only completed in September, Chiefs have strengthened this area very recently. With Yusuf Maart and Edson Castillo as big-name options, as well as Samkelo Zwane knocking on the door, there is no way the team could have accommodated another central midfield player. In fact, Johnson isn't having an easy time choosing which two of those three main options to start. There is talk that Siyethemba Sithebe and George Matlou will be offloaded at the end of the season. Castillo has had some vague links with a move to North African clubs, too. As it stands, this area has quality and strength in depth.
VERDICT: CORRECT DECISION. There was no need to look to bolster an already strong and expensively-assembled engine room.
Attacking midfield: Kids need pathway + Dolly decision
In the area behind the striker, i.e. the wingers and the number 10 position, Amakhosi again have plenty of bodies. Johnson's arrival has breathed fresh life into Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and there is still Mduduzi Shabalala, who can't have his route to minutes obstructed. Signing a number 10 would have been crazy because the club spent R3.5 million on Mduduzi Mdantsane not long ago and he already looks on the fringes, with his career at Naturena in the balance. As for the winger positions, we've seen Pule Mmodi deliver some big moments before the Afcon break. Christian Saile has moved back to his right winger role and he brings plenty to the table. It doesn't look like Tebogo Potsane is a big part of Johnson's thinking and then you have Ashley Du Preez and Keagan Dolly who can play on the flanks too. The latter is an interesting one because we know he earns 'bombs' in terms of salary and the Siya crew reported in April that his contract may get renewed soon. However, his agent Paul Mitchell told Soccer Laduma that those reports are untrue. Realistically, Dolly needs to get himself fully fit and lean again after his knee surgery. It would make no sense to renew his large contract without seeing him back to playing at full tilt first. The likelihood is that Potsane could be offloaded in the off-season and the likes of Sabelo Radebe and even Happy Mashiane may join him.
VERDICT: QUERSTIONABLE DECISION.
You can understand Chiefs wanting to play wait-and-see on Dolly before signing another winger, but it does feel like a position that could be upgraded. Two obvious targets would be Elias Mokwana from Sekhukhune United and Oswin Appollis from Polokwane City. Both have been in the Bafana Bafana picture and have excelled this season. Jaeden Rhodes, Sanele Barns, Mfundo Thikazi and Chumani Butsaka could be other players to consider, as well as Shandre Campbell.
Striker: The missing piece?
If you asked 1 000 Chiefs fans where they would make a signing, probably 95% of those would say a goalscorer is necessary. Ranga Chivaviro was acquired after just one prolific season in his DStv Premiership career and he is on the wrong side of 30. Jasond Gonzalez is being given more chances to play, but there isn't a whole lot to suggest he is going to suddenly explode. Du Preez is perhaps best through the middle, but ruthless finishing has never been something to associate with the speed merchant. A genuinely top-class striker could totally change the outlook for the Glamour Boys, but where do you find players like that? They have tried the foreign market with Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, but he was quickly written off just a year into a three-year contract. Khanyisa Mayo would bring more of a poacher ability and he is stronger in the air by a big distance than Du Preez. Iqraam Rayners has been linked, but his game is certainly too similar to that of Du Preez and the move wouldn't make sense. Chibuike Ohizu is a constant handful for defenders and is someone Amakhosi could tempt from Sekhukhune for a few million Rand perhaps.
VERDICT: QUERSTIONABLE DECISION.
The club arguably needed a striker in this window, but finding the right player for the right price is exceptionally challenging. They may argue that they need to get an answer, once and for all, if Chivaviro or Gonzalez have what it takes to score regularly for the country's most-supported club.
Swallows clear-out: Chiefs alive to options?
As we've seen in this window, Moroka Swallows fired the majority of their squad. Leaving aside the legalities of that decision, it has presented an opportunity to try to sign some of their players. SuperSport United were opportunistic and grabbed Keegan Allan on a free transfer. Golden Arrows picked up Kagiso Malinga to boost their attack, too. Were Chiefs alive to any signings from the Dube Birds? If we are honest, not many Swallows players would improve Amakhosi besides Bongani Sam and Tshegofatso Mabasa and both are contracted to Soweto archrivals, Orlando Pirates. In reality, the club probably made the right decision to steer clear and instead focus on the players they already have.
The difficulty with January signings
Signing players in January is never easy. Even in the big five leagues, not many clubs make big moves in the mid-season transfer window. It certainly didn't work for Chelsea to sign so many players in January 2023 and the examples of good moves in this window are quite rare (Virgil Van Dijk, for example). Yes, Sundowns have acquired big names like Teboho Mokoena and Rushine De Reuck in the January window in years gone by, but most clubs are not eager to sell. It is difficult to find replacements at short notice and even for Chiefs, they would have to bed down any additions without the aid of a full pre-season. Considering how many players they bought last season and how late guys like Mthethwa and Fleurs arrived, it could unsettle the dressing room to bring in one or more signings. Another factor is that Amakhosi ended December in pretty good form – 13 points from six matches (WLWWWD) – and they may feel like there is momentum brewing in the ranks. It may disrupt their good run and create uncertainty to go on a spending spree (like Downs did).
Amakhosi keep their powder dry
After so many years of not spending money on transfer fees, we've seen some big additions at Chiefs over the last couple of years. Du Preez, Kwinika, Maart, Msimango and Mthethwa all took significant fees to get them out of their former clubs. Based on that evidence, the club was not just being cheap in this window. They seemingly plan to keep their powder dry, as the saying goes, in order to have more to spend in July and August. Based on the positional analysis done, they are going to 100% need a left back and a striker in the off-season. A winger and a goalkeeper are also on the agenda. Besides that, they need to get their decisions right in terms of whether to hold onto big earners like Dolly and Khune or whether to make a clean break from one or both of them. In terms of players who feel like they are somewhat on trial between now and June, guys like Fleurs, Bvuma, Petersen, Saile, Gonzalez, Chivaviro, Mashiane and even Dove have a lot to prove to the Sporting Director, club hierarchy and the current (and next?) head coach. They need to perform to ensure they are not part of a clear-out come 30 June.
