Kaizer Chiefs yesterday offered the strongest hint yet that they are ready to move on without their out-of-contract senior players who are still to find new clubs when they appointed Siphiwe Tshabalala their captain for the 2015/2016 Absa Premiership season.
Tshabalala, an Amakhosi veteran, takes over the armband from central defender Tefu Mashamaite who did not renew his contract in the hope of a move overseas. But after failing to secure a deal in the American Major League Soccer with New York City as well as in Cyprus, there is a possibility of Mashamaite returning to the local league.
If he does come back to South Africa and Chiefs, the central defender, who was last season’s star at both the league and club awards, will have to return to being just a normal player.
Ditto for Itumeleng Khune, the goalkeeper who previously captained Amakhosi before Mashamaite was elevated. Like the defender from Limpopo, Khune has not renewed his contract at Chiefs but with no clubs able to match his salary demands there is a chance he might be back at Naturena.
In appointing the player popularly known as Shabba as their skipper, Amakhosi have shown just how much they value loyalty – Tshabalala has been at the club since 2007 when he joined from Free State Stars.
A popular player with the fans, the player best known for scoring the 2010 World Cup’s opening goal expressed delight at his appointment.
“It is a great honour to be chosen to lead such a great club,” he said on the club’s website. “I am happy to form a part of the illustrious names that captained Chiefs in the past and I will do my best with the support of my colleagues.”
According to kaizerchiefs.com, coach Steve Komphela has no doubt the club has appointed the right leader in the 30-year-old left-footed midfielder.
“It is an honour that comes with a great responsibility for Shabba. He is capable. I think he will deliver as expected. Shabba has immense leadership qualities and more so, he works with a captain’s committee that will support him in his duties.”
The committee Komphela was referring to include senior players Tsepo Masilela, Morgan Gould, Pa Gaxa, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and (the not-so-experienced) Lorenzo Gordino.
Tshabalala couldn’t have asked for a better time to take over as the club’s official captain, his first match as Amakhosi’s leader being Saturday’s Soweto derby against rivals Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup at the FNB Stadium.
He has been around for too long though to be fazed by the challenge and is actually looking forward to leading Chiefs to further glory.
“I will have to do extra weight- lifting and gain muscles to lift trophies for our supporters and the club,” Tshabalala quipped. - The Star