Chiefs players
Football manager Bobby Motaung says more are on their way to Naturena.
After shipping out over 20 players from the previous lukewarm season, AmaKhosi brought in former Mamelodi Sundowns captain RamahlweMphahlele,SibusisoKhumalo, EnocentMkhabela, Lewis Macha, Emmanuel Letlotlo, Keagan Buchanan as well as the Zimbabwean duo of Edmore Chirambadare and Mitchell Katsvairo.
Chiefs released players such as Reyaad Pieterse,ReneilweLetsholonyane, Ivan Bukenya and Ovidy Karuru among other big names.
Interesting times at Chiefs, aren’t they?
There is nothing wrong with a club embarking on a massive recruitment exercise after an equal clear out. That was expected at the club, including the changes that also took place in the dug-out where Doctor Khumalo no longer appears.
Khumalo, am told, will be the technical director. Ghanaian John Painstil replaced him in the new set up recommended by head coach Steve Khompela.
My biggest worry is the trend whereby big teams like Chiefs fail to groom their own stars from Diepsloot Soweto, Zandspruit or any other township through the junior policy.
In the past, players emerged from these townships to become household names. Khumalo is one of them.
Football has become cosmopolitan place, but that is no bases to dump the junior policy which promote local talent and identity of clubs.
Bringing in ten players who will have to go through some orientation of the Chiefs culture, ideology and system is not the best way to go. It stifles local talent.
Big clubs such Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns and indeed the South African Football Association must take deliberate steps to ensure junior football does not die while at the same time accommodating skillful foreign players who add value to the local game.
A good example of a foreign player that illuminated domestic football is Khama Billiat. I don’t see any reason why teams must buy foreigners who come to warm the bench, while failing to tap what is available on the local market.
