Notably, the likes of Mayele are from central Africa but their football has mostly been developed in East Africa, in his case with Simba and Young Africans in Tanzania. Mayele is now arguably an exceptional case because he is gaining added experience from North Africa with Pyramids FC in Egypt. Burkina Faso's Aziz Ki is at Young Africans.
Historically, East Africa-based players, when at Chiefs, including Ugandan Ivan Bukenya, Kenyan Akumu Agay, Burundian Caleb Bimenyimana, and current striker Christian Saile (from DRC), have not lived up to expectations.
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Despite the track record of players from the East African region in the PSL, Chiefs insiders believe that the targets Nabi is interested are different when compared to those who have been at the club before.
The Siya sources have added that the forwards the club is interested in now have a superior track record, which is much more impressive, and they believe these players can help the club in its current situation.
"Coach Nabi has worked in East Africa. He has worked in the DRC and in Tanzania and he understands how those players from there work, and how they can perform. Actually he is just looking at a few players from East Africa and he has worked with some of them before so the club believes those ones, if signed, could succeed at the team," said the Siya source.
"I don't think the club is judging these players based on the players they had in the past. Each and every player is different and they are looking at these players with a different eye and perception. They believe in them as they have followed their progress and they have been consistent and that's a good thing," the source added.
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A second insider pointed at different players who have done well in the PSL, whether at Chiefs or other clubs.
"Remember Musa Otieno from Santos, Denis Onyango and others like Postnet Omony who have done well in the PSL. Yes, there may not be many of them but there have been those successful players from the Eastern part of Africa and let's hope the ones linked to Kaizer Chiefs can come and they will also be part of the successful ones," the second insider stated.
With Chiefs targeting East African players, the club's faith in coach Nabi's experience and judgment will be crucial in deciding whether those players will successfully adapt to the PSL. While certain past signings may not have met expectations, the targeted players' proven track records offer hope for exceptions to those cases.
