Chiefs recruitment goes into overdrive

Kaiser Chiefs New Signings Back Row(l-r); Keagan Ritchie, Siyanda Xulu, Camaldine Abraw, Andisiwe Ntsila, Bongani Ndulula, Sibongiseni Ngcobo and Lucky Baloyi Front Row(l-r); Steve Komphela coach of Kaizer Chiefs, Jessica Motaung Marketing Manager , Bobby Motaung Football Manager at Kaizer Chiefs and Daniel Cardoso during the Kaizer Chiefs Press Conference on 23 June 2015 at Kaizer Chiefs Village Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Kaiser Chiefs New Signings Back Row(l-r); Keagan Ritchie, Siyanda Xulu, Camaldine Abraw, Andisiwe Ntsila, Bongani Ndulula, Sibongiseni Ngcobo and Lucky Baloyi Front Row(l-r); Steve Komphela coach of Kaizer Chiefs, Jessica Motaung Marketing Manager , Bobby Motaung Football Manager at Kaizer Chiefs and Daniel Cardoso during the Kaizer Chiefs Press Conference on 23 June 2015 at Kaizer Chiefs Village Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Published Jun 24, 2015

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The departure of key players at Kaizer Chiefs may very well soon be forgotten after the team unveiled eight new signings, with two of the players coming from the team’s development structures, at the club’s headquarters in Naturena yesterday.

Siyanda Xulu from FC Rostov in Russia, Daniel Cardoso from Free State Stars, Keegan Ritchie from Bloemfontein Celtic, Bongani Ndulula from AmaZulu, Camaldine Abraw from Free State Stars, Lucky Baloyi from Moroka Swallows as well as Sibongiseni Nqcobo and Andisiwe Ntsila from the Chiefs youth academy will all be part of the newly appointed coach Steve Komphela’s plans ahead of the 2015/2016 season, as the club looks to defend their Premiership championship title.

The most notable signing is that of Xulu, who had a spell with the Amakhosi youth teams, before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2008/2009, then Russia.

Xulu says Chiefs were the only team that showed interest in signing him and that made his decision very easy to join the club.

“I was not really worried about who showed interest in me or not.

“Chiefs showed interest in me and I was happy with the offer. It was not really a big decision to make, it was always Chiefs for me,” said Xulu.

The central defender has not played competitive football for more than five months now, but says he is in good shape and willing to put in the extra hard work to fit into the team’s structure and gel with his teammates.

“It is my responsibility to work on my shape, to regain my confidence and everything. I will never make a mistake of undermining the league, but I have been here before and I know what is required from me. It can never be the same as Europe, where it is more tactical, and South African football is more about flair.

“I was training with the whole team, but come game time I was always on the bench, so I can never be satisfied with that,” said the central defender.

Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung, on the other hand, announced the departure of Matthew Rusike, who will now ply his trade in Portugal for an undisclosed team.

Motaung revealed that the team was keen on offering Rusike a new deal, but the striker opted not to go into negotiations with his contract set to expire by the end of June.

“Matthew told us on Sunday that he is leaving for Portugal. We offered him a new deal but he wanted to leave. I don’t have a name of the team he is joining,” said Motaung.

He also added that the team might sign two or more players before the end of the transfer window. - The Star

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