Chiefs announcement to hurt Ditlhokwe’s early move

The public broadcaster’s sports desk broke the news of Ditlhokwe’s imminent move to Chiefs hours before Amakhosi took the surprise route yesterday to confirm the Botswana international and skipper would be heading to Naturena in July when his contract with Matsatsantsa expires at the end of the current season.

It’s unusual for Premier Soccer League teams to publicly reveal a player is joining them from a rival outfit on a pre-contract while he still has six months remaining, just as Chiefs themselves did not utter a word about midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe when he transferred from AmaZulu on a free. 

Despite the Usuthu president, Sandile Zungu, blasting the Glamour Boys publicly for securing Sithebe legally on a pre-contract, Chiefs only made their public statement when the player was being announced at the end of the campaign. 

According to reliable sources, Thursday’s announcement on social media welcoming Ditlhokwe to the Soweto giants irked the SuperSport hierarchy, and it’s emerged now that any hopes that the two clubs could agree on a deal for his early release are slim. 

The defender has missed the previous two DStv Premiership matches through injury, but is expected back against Richards Bay on Sunday. 

But with news he is leaving SuperSport and joining Chiefs in July, there will naturally be questions over his commitment. 

With the January transfer window still open until the end of the month, it remains to be seen whether Amakhosi will continue to make any attempts to bring Ditlhokwe on board earlier, although Matsatsantsa would need an adequate replacement. 

The “premature” announcement, however, could have halted any potential discussions regarding that possibility.