Kaizer Chiefs will have a new center forward next season, while big question marks are facing the prospects of Thembinkosi Lorch and Sipho Mbule.
NALEDI HLONGWANE TO PLAY KAIZER CHIEFS FIRST-TEAM FOOTBALL
After 11 goals and two assists for Amakhosi in the DCC this season, the 19-year-old striker has put pen to paper on his first senior deal. According to FARPost, the Sebokeng-born player has been training with the senior team since December 2024 together with the 21-year-old defender Aden McCarthy. Kaizer Chiefs are expected to announce Hlongwane’s promotion before the start of the 2025/2016 season.
Hlongwane will be the seventh promotion since 2020. The list is as follows:
- Lebohang Lesako
- Darrel Matsheke
- Samkelo Zwane
- Wandile Duba
- Mduduzi Tshabalala
- Mfundo Vilakazi.
THEMBINKOSI LORCH AND SIPHO MBULE
Kaizer Chiefs’ former assistant coach, Farouk Khan, has explained why Amakhosi should not consider signing Thembinkosi Lorch and Sipho Mbule.
The 31-year-old Lorch is expected to become a free agent when his loan deal with Wydad Casablanca ends in June. Similarly, Mbule, 27, is set to leave Mamelodi Sundowns after his loan spell with Sekhukhune United this winter.
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According to Khan, the duo would not have a positive influence in the Kaizer Chiefs camp. “What’s important is for Chiefs to maintain the team spirit, I wouldn’t advise them to sign Mbule and Lorch even if they were free [agents] to be honest,” Farouk Khan told Soccer Beat, as per FARPost.
“The two players come with a lot of baggage, they are good players, but what they do off the field it’s going to influence what happens on the field.
“Chiefs once signed Khama Billiat from Sundowns, and he’s a very good player, but he came with a lot of off-field problems,” the former Kaizer Chiefs academy leader added. “So when I look at this, I don’t just look at the technical and tactical ability, I also look at the mentality and discipline because what makes a great team is players who are disciplined and don’t party.”
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DO YOU AGREE WITH FAROUK KHAN?
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