It's been a topsy-turvy season for Kaizer Chiefs and indications are that the club will undergo another exodus in an effort to improve on their disappointing campaign. As things stand, Amakhosi are in danger of ending the 2023/24 campaign even worse than they did under Arthur Zwane last season, which shows that there has been absolutely no improvement from the side, despite the fact that they went out into the market to get new players. With the season heading towards the end, Soccer Laduma looks at the major changes Amakhosi are preparing to make.
What the Siya crew has been told…
Another season of no trophies in the cabinet and it appears Kaizer Chiefs are heading for another rebuild. Word reaching the Siya Crew is that Amakhosi are heading for another period of letting go of quite a few players to make space for a number of new faces who are expected to join the club next season, as they make another effort to end the miserable pain of going almost 10 years without a major trophy to celebrate in the cabinet. First on the list of priorities at Amakhosi is the head coaching position. The Siya Crew has been informed that it's a certain that Cavin Johnson will not be considered for a permanent role as head coach, and Amakhosi are in fact well into their search for the perfect man to take charge of arguably the hottest seat in South African football.
The Siya Crew has been informed that Chiefs are likely to bring in a foreign coach, with the club searching beyond the borders for a suitable candidate. Amakhosi are likely to keep Dillon Sheppard as part of the technical team, even with a new coach coming in. It's unclear at this stage if the new coach would come in with his own assistant, but the club would like to keep Sheppard in the technical team, possibly as a second assistant if the person they appoint insists on having his own right-hand man.
Johnson, meanwhile, is set to return to his role as head of academy. From the playing personnel, there are going to be more changes, as has been the case season in and out since they last won the league title in 2014/15. As things stand, there are close to 10 players at the club who have their futures in doubt and a decision will be made on what happens to them as management plots the way forward. Njabulo Ngcobo, Sifiso Hlanti, Siyethemba Sithebe, George Matlou, Edmilson Dove, Keagan Dolly and Jasond Gonzalez all have contracts expiring at the end of the campaign, while the likes of Tebogo Potsane, Ranga Chivaviro and Sabelo Radebe have uncertain futures with the club. Itumeleng Khune, meanwhile, is expected to retire.
The Siya Crew has been reliably informed that the club will not extend the loan deal of South American striker Gonzalez, as they don't see him as someonewho can add to the team next season. The Colombian is yet to find the back of the net. Indications are that Potsane and Chivaviro could be placed on the transfer list for other clubs to make an offer, or there is a possibility of agreeing to part ways so that they leave as free agents. Radebe, who has struggled to break into the team, could be in line for a loan move to get more game time under his belt. His contract with the club is due to expire in June 2026.
With the players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, the club is still mulling on who they are going to keep, but expectations are that there will be quite a number of exits to make room for the new faces that will be coming in next season.
What are the facts?
It's been another chaotic season for Chiefs and, as things stand, they are not likely to do any better than they did last season under Arthur Zwane, who was replaced by Molefi Ntseki. Ntseki was not the first option to take over as head coach of the club coming into this season, as the former Bafana Bafana coach revealed in an interview with Soccer Laduma a couple of months ago that they interviewed coaches but could not find a suitable candidate. Indications are that the club already has a shortlist of coaches they are considering for the hot seat and it's only a matter of time.
With Johnson at the helm as interim over the last few months, Amakhosi management has had time to consider all their options and their supporters will no doubt be expecting them to make the right call. Johnson was initially appointed as head of academy and indications are that he will return to the role to help Amakhosi produce more youngsters for the future.
What The Rebuilding Phase Will Look Like…
The hunt for a goalkeeper
The Siya Crew has been reliably informed that Amakhosi are in the market for a goalkeeper to bolster the department, with Itumeleng Khune set to call it a day at the end of the season. Bruce Bvuma has been the number one shot-stopper under interim coach Cavin Johnson, but the Siya crew understands that the Soweto giants are looking for an even more experienced goalkeeper to give that department an edge going into the 2024/25 campaign. Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United has been a target, but the Siya crew recently reported that Amakhosi could pull out of the race to sign the Nigerian international whose value increased after his good showing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year. Richards Bay goalkeeper Salim Magoola is another player the Soweto giants are believed to be monitoring and is, in fact, high on the list. At 28, the Ugandan has age on his side, with goalkeepers having the ability to play to as late as the age of 40. AmaZulu's 33-year-old goalkeeper Veli Mothwa is understood to be another option for the Soweto giants, but indications are that Chiefs prefer a younger shot-stopper, which is why Magoola remains a top target.
The hunt for a striker
With Gonzalez and Chivaviro likely to be heading out, Amakhosi are in the market to secure the services of a striker who will solve their goal scoring troubles. This season, the club has been struggling in front of goal, with a poor record of 19 goals in 23 matches. Of the teams currently in the top eight, Amakhosi have the worst goalscoring record. In fact, they are the only team in the top eight that has scored less than 20 goals. The club is understood to have identified a few strikers that they can bring in for next season, but it will also depend on whether they are willing to fork out the big bucks to secure their services. Two strikers Amakhosi are believed to be interested in are Iqraam Rayners and Khanyisa Mayo of Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town City respectively. Both clubs are willing to sell the players at the right price and it would depend, if Chiefs are willing to dig deep into their pockets to bring one of them to bolster their striking department for next season. Ashley Du Preez is definitely staying at the club, and they want to bring in someone who can ease the pressure on the shoulders of the former Stellenbosch striker. It's understood that the search for a striker is not limited to the PSL, with the club looking both on the continent and in South America to find a suitable candidate.
The case of Pitso Mosimane
Talks of a possible move to Chiefs have always been there when it comes to Pitso Mosimane, but it's easier said than done. Indications are that Amakhosi would definitely want to have someone of Mosimane's calibre leading the team, but there are conditions that might make it difficult for the club to appoint the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach.
Watch This Space
Once the season is over, Amakhosi will be making some big announcements, with the appointment of a new coach high on their list of priorities. The club is expected to appoint a foreign coach, though the arrival of former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane cannot completely be ruled out at this stage.
