Official: Chiefs Player Signings, Exits & More Changes Incoming
Kaizer Chiefs are set to announce new signings, player exits, technical team changes among a host of changes ahead of the 2022/23 season, Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr confirmed.
In what was described as the start of a new revolution for the most-supported club in South African football after seven years without silverware, Chiefs made their bold decision to announce club legend Arthur Zwane as their new head coach on a three-year contract, where he will be assisted by Dillon Sheppard.
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Motaung Jr waxed lyrical about modernising their approach to the future, setting foundations that can not only bring success back to the club but sustain it in the long-term, from hirings ranging from data analysts in aid of recruitment and scouting to sports scientists.
And with the excitement of their new project, he also stated that it’s imperative for support and patience from everyone within the club and supporters as they come to terms with where they are right now as a club, something which Zwane has previously mentioned, saying Amakhosi lost its identity and culture after several indifferent coaching appointments.
In terms of player recruitment, iDiski Times reported last month that Zitha Kwinika, the reigning Stellenbosch Player of the Season will return to Naturena next season, along with Siyathemba Sithebe who signed a pre-contract in January from AmaZulu – while the club are in the process of securing Ashley Du Preez.
More than 10 players are also expected to be released, with a few ‘surprises’ to be expected, this website understands, while goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter is also said to be one of the changes that could be announced next week.
“I think this was the first step [appointing Zwane and Sheppard], this was very important that everyone understands that the coaches are a very integral part of that process [of signing and releasing players], so in the next coming days you will be hearing from the club’s platforms officially who we will be signing or who we will be releasing,” Motaung Jnr said on Thursday at FNB Stadium.
“I know sometimes our fans get themselves in a haze on social media and then get upset and fighting us and meanwhile it’s something really far fetched but we just ask for their patience as you can see now, normally the club would have waited until June, before the season starts before starting to announce stuff.
“We said no it’s very important that we set the tone right from the beginning and just like now this was an important announcement – next coming days, player movements, technical staff movements and other structural movements will be coming in the coming days.”
Chiefs will notably have the leisure of focusing on building a squad capable of competing on the domestic stage next season, having missed out on CAF inter-club competition qualification this past season.
Story by: Lorenz Köhler
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