JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed winger Bhongolwethu Jayiya as their third signing this week, the 27-year-old arriving as a free agent after he’d decided not to renew his contract with Cape Town City at the end of last season.
He joins Chicken Inn defender Teenage Hadebe and Philani Zulu from Maritzburg United as the players Amakhosi have signed so far during the transfer window to bolster their squad for the upcoming campaign. Jayiya featured in 24 league matches for City, who finished the season in third place, and scored five times for the Mother City outfit.
“I heard about the interest from Chiefs towards the end of my contract at City last season,” the player, who committed to a three-year contract, said in a statement.
“This is a childhood dream becoming a reality. I am excited about this move and just want to get onto the pitch and let my feet do the talking. I am here to assist to bring back the glory days.”
Chiefs are still likely to bring in more reinforcements having let as many as seven players go following a poor season in which they again failed to win a trophy.
Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League executive committee on Thursday afternoon rubber-stamped the sale of newly promoted Thanda Royal Zulu’s franchise to AmaZulu, who were relegated to the National First Division three seasons ago.
CONFIRMED: @AmaZuluFootball back in the PSL after buying @ThandaRoyal status. pic.twitter.com/8f1aVONXte
— Mazola J. Molefe (@superjourno) July 6, 2017
The two clubs had agreed on the sale several weeks ago but were awaiting approval from the PSL Exco, who met a week ago but could not ratify the arrangement at the time, although this was only a formality. Thanda and AmaZulu still had a few outstanding issues, but there was no clarity as to what that was, suffice to say it had to do with the PSL constitution.
The amount AmaZulu paid is believed to be in the region of R40-million and Thanda’s intentions to sell became clear shortly following their promotion to the elite league, with chairman Pierre Delvaux claiming that they could not keep up with the financial costs of running a football club.
“The club formerly known as Thanda Royal Zulu will campaign in the Premier Division of the league under the name AmaZulu Football Club and be located in Durban. Richards Bay Football Club will campaign in the National First Division and be located in Richards Bay,” read the statement from the league late on Thursday afternoon.
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