Kaizer Chiefs development conveyor belt has continued to feed Premier Soccer League clubs, particularly Stellenbosch, who could sell the same players to them in future.
Chiefs had to pay several millions to acquire the services of Zitha Kwinika, who was Stellies' captain in 2022, looking to strengthen their defence, which would have been a bitter pill to swallow.
Kwinika had come through the development ranks and was also the captain during his time at the Chiefs juniors but with no promotion opportunities, he went through the likes of Chippa United and Bidvest Wits, before he ended up at the Cape Winelands side.
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The same scenario could be unfolding with two other hugely talented players from the Amakhosi academy, as TS Galaxy midfielder Thato Khiba, who was also developed by the Soweto giants, is on the verge of concluding a move to The Maroons, as a replacement for Jayden Adams, who is on his way to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Another former academy star player for Chiefs, Omega Mdaka has shown immense potential since being given a chance by Stellies, after the Glamour Boys released him alongside the likes of Puso Dithejane, following allegations that they disobeyed orders from the club to be ball retrievers.
Mdaka has become an understudy for left-back Fawaaz Basadien, with his performances already making the country take notice.
With Basadien linked with a move to Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Chiefs themselves, should Amakhosi miss out, they could find themselves also admiring Mdaka a season or so down the line.
The Rockets have built a good reputation of producing top talent in the PSL and Khiba also has the potential to attract bigger clubs once he plays for Stellies, just as the likes of Bathusi Aubaas and Given Msimango quickly jumped up the ladder.
Read: Chiefs Defender Set To Leave, Cutting Squad Numbers
If Chiefs did not release the likes of Khiba, Mdaka and Dithejane, they could be having a formidable line-up of homegrown players, that also includes exciting youngsters Mfundo Vilakazi, Mduduzi Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane and Wandile Duba, who have already made it into the regular first team.
The likes of Njabulo Blom, Happy Mashiane and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo also form part of the success of the Amakhosi development project in recent years.
