Tim Sukazi confirms pending Kaizer Chiefs talks over Puso Dithejane signing

The Rockets announced the big coup on Monday night on the back of our story revealing Amakhosi had terminated the youth development player’s contract for allegedly refusing to be a ball-boy. 

Chiefs, angered by this misconduct, have since suspended a handful of their reserve league players, while Dithejane and another defender in Unathi ‘Omega’ Mdaka were told they could leave subject to a R1.5-million training and development compensation fee being paid by any potential suitor. 

According to the National Soccer League [NSL] rules if a youth player moves from one Premier Soccer League [PSL] club to another, the team responsible for his development is entitled to R50 000 per year. 

It’s then not expected Galaxy will fork out R1.5-million for Dithejane, but Sukazi said they could not watch a gifted player sitting idle. 

“We became aware of Puso’s availability in the last week or so when the news of the termination of his contract by Kaizer Chiefs hit the public domain. As a concerned SA football citizen, we thought it would be a huge risk to the future of SA football to have a talent like Puso wandering around at home and not playing football,” Sukazi said in a statement to the public broadcaster. 

“We then committed ourselves to doing everything possible to rescue this talent. I’m glad that we’ve managed to take the first critical step of signing him.” 

It’s not clear how Chiefs came to the R1.5-million figure as a training and development compensation amount, which is due to a club that contributes to the growth of a youth player between the ages of 12 and 21. 

FIFA also gives the greenlight to academy teams to claim money each time a player is transferred internationally until they are 23 years old. 

Dithejane, who was part of the Bafana Bafana squad during the COSAFA Cup and made his national team debut under Morena Ramoreboli, joined the Glamour Boys from the famous School of Excellence. 

Sukazi said Galaxy were eager to get the 19-year-old on the pitch as soon as possible and this required a discussion with his now ex-employers. 

“What remains are ancillary steps that would see him taking the field of play. This requires engagement with his former club in terms of the applicable football rules. We will certainly do so as a matter of high priority so that Puso could continue with his career,” the chairman explained.