Kaizer Chiefs’ Bongani Sam is in contention to play against Marumo Gallants in the club’s Betway Premiership opener.
Sam could be fit for Gallants
Bongani Sam picked up a serious foot injury before Chiefs’ pre-season tour of Turkiye. One huge advantage of a late start to the season is extra time for the club to bring a few players back to full fitness, and Sam is one of them. When he makes his Amakhosi debut, he’ll become the fifth player in history to represent all of Soweto’s elite clubs.
Half a dozen remain out for Kaizer Chiefs
The news isn’t as good for half a dozen other Chiefs players who are all set to miss the opener on 14 September. 30-year-old Mozambican defender Edmilson Dove picked up a foot injury in Turkiye on the club’s pre-season tour and he’ll still be out for a few more weeks. The same is true of Brandon Petersen, who’s now essentially Chiefs’ third-choice goalkeeper. Fringe winger Tebogo Potsane, full-back Dillan Solomons and midfielder George Matlou are all still out while playmaker Mduduzi Mdantsane is a long-term absentee.
Transfer Recap: Arrivals at Naturena
- Rushwin Dortley – R10 million
- Fiacre Ntwari – R5.5 million
- Inacio Miguel – R4.5 million
- Bongani Sam – R4 million
- Bradley Cross – R3.5 million
- Gaston Sirino – Free
- Njabulo Blom – Loan
TOTAL SPEND: R27.5 million
The transfer window shuts on 20 September.
New-look defence and a potential change in system
Chiefs have invested heavily in new central defenders this window with R14.5 million spent on Rushwin Dortley (R10 million) and Inacio Miguel (R4.5 million). Both will expect to play a significant role in 2024-2025, but where does that leave existing defenders Spiwe Msimango and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe? Both are senior men and highly regarded within the walls of Naturena so even if the club switches to three at the back, one of these guys will be sitting on the bench every matchday.
Presumably, Chiefs could start with Msimango, Miguel and Ditlhokwe as their most experienced, plug-and-play central defensive trio at the start of the campaign. However, Rushwin Dortley was bought for his current ability, not just his potential, and he’s already part of the Bafana setup.
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