New midfielder trains with Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi is clearly looking for a midfielder for the new season. A second midfielder from the reserve team has reportedly joined the first team for assessment.
THLANI MABSASO WITH THE KAIZER CHIEFS FIRST TEAM
With Sinethemba Sithebe leaving in pre-season, Amakhosi’s pre-season training started with five midfield options: Yusuf Maart, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Edson Castillo, Samkelo Zwane and Sabelo Radebe. With these limited options and coach Nabi seemingly not keen on Mthethwa and Castillo, Manqoba Ozoemena was called from the reserve team for assessment.
With the club yet to identify a target to sign, new reports have just revealed that another academy star, Thulani “Touch” Mabasa has started to train with the senior side for assessment.
According to SuperSport TV’s Karabo Selebalo Phasha, the 20-year-old Mabaso, known as a defensive midfielder, has even played a friendly match.
“Understand Kaizer Chiefs DDC midfielder Thulani “Touch” Mabaso has been invited to train with the 1st team on a couple of occasions,” Phasha said.
“Played a friendly a few days ago and done fairly well,” the report added.
MC ALGER TO ANNOUNCE OSWIN APPOLLIS
This is not good news for Kaizer Chiefs. Algerian giants MC Alger have reportedly won the race to sign Oswin Appollis from Polokwane City.
22-year-old Bafana Bafana winger Appollis was targetted by Amakhosi since the final phase of last season. Reports later said Polokwane were refusing to sell the former Cape Town Spurs attacker to local clubs.
After lengthy negotiations, FARPost has reported that Algerian giants MC Alger has won the race to sign Appollis ahead of Kaizer Chiefs.
“Polokwane City FC have finally agreed to sell Oswin Appollis to Algerian giants MC Alger after protracted negotiations,” the report said.
“The reigning Algerian champions are in pole position for the South African international, beating competition from top clubs across Africa and domestically for the Polokwane City star.
“The final step is for the two clubs to sign a transfer agreement. Thereafter, the player will have to agree to personal terms.
“The personal terms are expected to be a smooth process, considering the more challenging hurdle of convincing ‘Rise and Shine’ to let go of their star player has already been overcome. A routine medical will then follow,” the report concluded.
HOW KAIZER CHIEFS MISSED OUT ON KHANYISA MAYO
Kaizer Chiefs supporters might take this the hard way. Khanyisa Mayo to Amakhosi fell through by seconds of a minute.
Betway Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs were only seconds away from signing Khanyisa Mayo. Unfortunately for Amakhosi, Algerian giants CR Belouizdad moved faster.
As reported on 3 August, the 25-year-old striker from Umtata signed for the Algerian giants from Cape Town City on a deal that is reportedly around R20 million.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Mayo’s agent, Basia Michaels, revealed how Kaizer Chiefs lost out on the player that had been targeting for over two seasons.
According to Michaels, Amakhosi sent their offer to sign Mayo a few seconds too late.
“I think Chiefs fell short because they were seconds too late from the offer that was made from CRB,” Mayo’s agent Basia Michaels said via Metro FM, as cited by @safootclassics.