Steve Komphela was part of the decision that led to a mass clearout at Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela and team manager Bobby Motaung during the 2016 Carling Black Label Champion Cup launch at Park Station on May 03, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Image by: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Image by: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela and his technical team were inclusive in the decision-making process that has led to 20 players being shown the door by the club in an apparent large-scale rebuilding process of Amakhosi’s squad.
Chiefs communications manager Vina Maphosa said on Wednesday he could not comment on the individual technical aspects of the players who have been released from contracts, or whose contracts will not be renewed, which will be addressed at a press conference at the end of June.
Maphosa did confirm that Komphela was instrumental in the process of arriving at the names of players to be culled at Chiefs, whose need to rebuild their squad was patently clear in a season where they ended trophy-less and in fifth position in the PSL.
“The memoire I got was that the decision was made by the collective at Chiefs, inclusive of the technical team,” Maphosa said.
The Chiefs’ communications manager also confirmed that right-back Siboniso Gaxa is among the players who will be leaving Amakhosi.
There has been confusion over Gaxa’s name being on the list of four players whose contracts have not been renewed. In October Chiefs tweeted that Gaxa had renewed his contract until 2018.
“The contractual issues at this stage – the direct answer is that it’s between the club and the player,” Maphosa said.
“As soon as there is word coming from the club on that [Gaxa’s contract issue], we will inform the media. What we are confirming is that as far as Pa Gaxa is concerned he is on the list of players who have been released by the club.
“I can confirm that he is leaving the club.”
Chiefs’ injury-prone veteran centre-back Morgan Gould; and central midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane, believed to be on his way to SuperSport United, have also not had their contracts renewed.
As has goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, who has indicated his desire seek out a club where he can earn more game time.
Players put on transfer are centreback Siyanda Xulu, strikers Bongani Ndulula, Edward Manqele, and Siphelele Mthembu, and the Ugandan pairing of Ivan Bukenya (midfielder) and Sula Matovu (forward).
Ndulula, Manqele and Mthembu scored one league goal (by Manqele) between them in 26 games last season.
That five players released – Ndulula, Manqele, Xulu, Matovu and left-back Keegan Ritchie – were signed in the last year must ask questions of Chiefs’ recent signing policy, which seemed to target quantity over quality. Ritchie was released as part of a swap deal that saw SuperSport’s Sibusiso Khumalo going the other way to Naturena.
“All technical descriptions of individual players who have been released will be addressed at a press conference at the end of June,” Maphosa said.
“On the information that I was provided there was no indication or technical view on what the rationale is. But from my guess it appears that the only difference is that it’s a huge number [of players being released].
“It’s a process that we embark on every year since I have been at Kaizer Chiefs. Those questions on whether it’s rebuilding or refreshing, the chairman [Kaizer Motaung] and technical team will have to answer that.”
Amakhosi, the PSL’s defending 2014-15 champions, reached two cup finals in 2015-16, losing in 1-0 the MTN8 to Ajax Cape Town and 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout.
The list of players released, as provided by Chiefs
Contract not renewed:
Morgan Gould
Siboniso Gaxa
Reneilwe Letsholonyane
Reyaad Pieterse
Released from contract:
Philani Cele
Ovidy Karuru
Levy Mokgothu
Simphiwe Mtsweni
Shandukani Mulovhedzi
Chris Matombo
Zitha Macheke
Put on transfer:
Siyanda Xulu
Bongani Ndulula
Edward Manqele
Siphelele Mthembu
Sula Matovu
Ivan Bukenya
On loan:
David Zulu (Chippa United)
Andisiwe Mtsila
Swap deal:
Keegan Ritchie (with SuperSport United’s Sibusiso Khumalo)
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