Kaizer Chiefs hold on to Itumeleng Khune and Sifiso Hlanti

By Mazola Molefe
28th June 2023

Kaizer Chiefs are understood to have made a positive decision on the futures of two of their most experienced players in goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and defender Sifiso Hlanti, whose contracts were to expire on Friday.

According to SABC Sport sources, the Soweto giants are holding on to the duo having allowed them to return for medicals this week at their Naturena base ahead of the start of pre-season in July.

While Amakhosi have not yet made an announcement, only confirming the departures of Erick Mathoho and Phathutshedzo Nange, the 30 June deadline will not affect Khune and Hlanti, who’ve now agreed deals in principle.

Chiefs also surprisingly sold centre back Siyabonga Ngezana to Romanian topflight side Football Club FCSB for an undisclosed fee.

There’s been some suspense at Naturena regarding which direction the Glamour Boys will be taking following a disappointing 2022/23 season under coach Arthur Zwane, who was in his first year in charge.

Chiefs finished fifth in the DStv Premiership, stretching their trophy drought to eight years as they missed out on all of the domestic honours.

Amakhosi have been in talks with Nasreddine Nabi to replace Zwane in the hot seat, but the Tunisian’s demands to bring his own technical team have been the biggest stumbling block to his potential appointment.

Although Zwane has lost the backing of the Chiefs hierarchy, insiders have revealed the club was open to bringing in another coach with the incumbent becoming his assistant and understudy.

That’s not gone down well with Nabi and his camp as things stand, but this hasn’t stopped Chiefs from finalising the make-up of the squad ahead of the 2023/24 season, which will kick off in August.

Khune and Hlanti will be joined by new faces in defenders Given Msimango (TS Galaxy), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (SuperSport United) and Mduduzi Mdantsane (Cape Town City), while Pule Mmodi has also signed for Amakhosi from Golden Arrows as confirmed by his former agent, Solomon Seabi.

SABC Sport reported this week that Chiefs were in talks with defender Austin Dube and midfielder Cole Alexander to offer them settlements and release them one-year before their respective contracts expire.

It’s only a matter of when they are confirmed to be leaving Amakhosi in the coming weeks because they are not in the club’s plans.