Today’s Kaizer Chiefs rumours revolve around Gaston Sirino’s replacements and the future of Mduduzi Shabalala.
Kaizer Chiefs rumours: 18 December 2024
Orlando Pirates hijack Appollis deal?
According to Soccer-Laduma, Orlando Pirates are firm favourites to sign Polokwane and Bafana winger Oswin Appollis in the summer window.
“Like I told you (last month), Pirates have had an advantage (over Chiefs) on Appollis because of the good relationship between the two clubs. It’s those kinds of deals between chairman and chairman and you can expect the move to happen in the coming weeks,” said the source.
Shabalala set for bumper new Chiefs contract
According to Soccer-Laduma, 20-year-old Mduduzi Shabalala will be rewarded with a three-year contract extension. The winger, converted into a number 10 this season, has featured in all nine of Chiefs’ Betway Premiership clashes. Shabalala, whose current deal expires in June 2025, has three goals and an assist in the league this term.
Sirino’s replacement sorted?
Publicly, Chiefs are backing Gaston Sirino who allegedly feigned injury and refused to train in recent weeks. Tanzanian playmaker Feisal Salum is commanding a massive new pay rise with his current club Azam FC. Simba SC and Kaizer Chiefs are both lurking with considerable intent. According to The Citizen, Amakhosi have the funds to out-bid Azam and offer him improved terms. However, Chiefs face a tough stage of negotiations if they want to lure the midfielder away from his homeland. The attacking midfield maestro scored 19 goals last term. He’s already hit doubles figures this season too.
‘Nasreddine Nabi is a fraud’
Amakhosi fans aren’t hiding their dismay at the club’s current results. The signs were good at the start of the campaign, with Chiefs picking up wins over Marumo Gallants and AmaZulu. The warning signs were there, however, with no clean sheets in either of those games. Criticism of Chiefs in the past few seasons has been around their inability to score goals, but clean sheets are important. After nine games of the current Betway Premiership season, the Glamour Boys have ZERO shutouts. That, despite a new-look defence with expensive signings like goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, and central defenders Rushwin Dortley and Inacio Miguel.
Are Percy Tau’s wage demands too high?
As things stand, Percy Tau reportedly pocketed R23.2m in the first year of his new deal with Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Monthly, that’s roughly R1.93m a month. The annual figure could rise to R31m in the third year. That’s R2 million a month, at the lower end. For context, the now-released Keagan Dolly was bagging R1.4m a month. It’s unlikely he’ll be happy to take a considerable pay cut.
Chiefs back in for Nwabali
According to Soccer-Laduma, Kaizer Chiefs will make another offer for Chippa and Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in January. The 28-year-old stopper has made 10 Betway Premiership appearances this term with four clean sheets.
