- Kaizer Chiefs are opening up about how they narrowly missed out on signing a South African international this summer.
- The Glamour Boys, along with several other top clubs in the PSL, were chasing the Bafana Bafana star during the transfer window.
- Instead of staying in South Africa, the 25-year-old opted for a move abroad, joining a prominent North African side for an undisclosed fee.
Let me tell you what happened. Kaizer Chiefs have spilled the beans on how they lost out on signing Bafana Bafana star Elias Mokwana this summer, even though they reportedly made a better offer than the club that eventually signed him. It's a tale of missed opportunities and tough negotiations in the world of football.
Mokwana was all the rage in South African football after his standout performances for Sekhukhune United last season in the Premier Soccer League. The Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, were among the clubs eyeing him as a potential game-changer for their squad. But sometimes, football deals don’t always go as planned.
Instead of staying in South Africa, the 25-year-old decided to take his talents abroad, signing with the North African giants Esperance of Tunisia. This move left many fans in South Africa wondering what went wrong for the clubs that were so eager to secure his services.
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What Went Wrong? Chiefs Spill the Beans
In a candid interview with Thabiso Mosia, as reported by iDiskiTimes, Kaizer Chiefs' sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr. revealed the inside story of why they couldn't bring Mokwana to the club. It seems like they had a promising start, even getting the chance to speak with the player about personal terms.
Motaung Jr. admitted that they matched Sekhukhune United's valuation of the player but couldn't finalize the deal. Here’s what he had to say:
“Yes, it’s true that we approached Elias Mokwana,” confirmed Kaizer Chiefs’ sporting director. “We submitted an offer and engaged in extensive negotiations with Simon Malatji from Sekhukhune United. I met with him multiple times, and we even put our offer in writing.”
“Not only that, but we were given the green light to speak with the player about personal terms, and guess what? The player agreed to those terms.”
Motaung Jr. went on to emphasize that Kaizer Chiefs had actually offered more money than Esperance of Tunisia, the club that eventually signed Mokwana. He stated:
“I don’t want to get into the exact details of Esperance’s offer, but I can tell you that what we put on the table was more generous than what Esperance offered at the time. We acted in good faith, and it’s disappointing that things didn’t work out.”
A Major Change at Kaizer Chiefs
As if the missed opportunity with Mokwana wasn’t enough, Kaizer Chiefs also announced a significant change within their coaching setup just before the start of the new Premier Soccer League season. It seems like the club is going through a period of transition, both on and off the field.
According to Briefly News, one of the assistant managers is leaving the club to pursue another opportunity elsewhere. This means that coach Nabi will have to adapt to a reduced coaching staff as they prepare for their opening fixture in the league.
What Does the Future Hold?
The football world is full of surprises, and while Kaizer Chiefs may have missed out on Mokwana, they are still a formidable force in South African football. The challenge now is to regroup, refocus, and continue building a team that can compete at the highest level. Whether it’s through new signings, tactical adjustments, or internal development, the Glamour Boys will need to find a way to stay competitive in the PSL.
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For fans, it’s a reminder that in football, deals can fall through even when all the pieces seem to fit. The game is unpredictable, and that’s part of what makes it so exciting. As the new season kicks off, all eyes will be on Kaizer Chiefs to see how they respond to these changes and challenges.
