Chiefs clarify striker search, trialists strategy

Kaizer Chiefs made a victorious return to PSL action on Saturday as Amakhosi ended 2022 on a high as they took three points from their match against Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida stadium.

Afterwards, coach, Arthur Zwane felt satisfied with the team’s performance considering it was their first competitive outing in more than a month, while he also provided another update on whether the club might look to bolster their ranks in the January transfer window.

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It’s well known that Chiefs have been profiling several possible players who could add value to the team, while a number of possible recruits have spent time on trial at Naturena.

Zwane has hinted that Chiefs specifically need to find a striker to help Caleb-Bonfils Bimenyimana, while also adding mentorship value to younger players.

“Realistically, we are looking for a striker. If we get a striker, yes,” Zwane said, as quoted by iDiski Times. “But a striker that will come in and add value. A striker that can help the likes of Wandile Duba to grow, not a player that will just come and add numbers.

“If we don’t get the quality that we are looking for, we will rather play Duba and he will grow, he will be a better player and he will start scoring goals.”   

Zwane also added that there was now a very clear plan when it came to considering trialists and how best to go about recruitment.

“Why we have decided to do that [bring in trialists], in the past, we just see a good player, now of late, we’re profiling players,” Zwane said.

“I know people don’t understand this but if I explain it further, they will understand why we came up with this idea. We can’t just bring in any player because Kaizer Chiefs is a beast.

“It’s not just another team that you can play for or easily settle, we wanted to see a lot of things from the players – those who are coming, to see if they can cope with our high-intensity sessions.

“Also to see how [they] settle when they are at the Village and we’ll ask him questions while [they] still training there… find out what’s their take, what they think – you know.”

Kaizer Chiefs are next in action against Sekhukhune United, in a home game at FNB stadium on 7 January 2023.

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