Kaizer Chiefs latest: 7 players already signed by Kaizer Chiefs to help Stuart Baxter

Kaizer Chiefs finally let the cat out of the bag with one of the worst kept secrets of the South African football fraternity by announcing the re-hiring of veteran coach Stuart Baxter on Wednesday.

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The 67-year-old British mentor returns to Chiefs in a second spell, having previously coached the club in three years stretching from 2012-2014.

Baxter was largely successful in his first stint, where he won four major trophies for the Soweto giants, including two league titles. The Chiefs fans will undoubtedly be hoping his return will help yield similar results.

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In a club statement on Wednesday Chiefs owner, Kaizer Motaung Senior did emphasise that Baxter was a coach he was confident would be able to work with the current players as well as build a formidable squad with some new additions.

So which of those new additions have Chiefs already ‘signed’ according to media reports, and will be able to help Baxter in his attempt to reclaim the club’s glory days?

The South African looks at players who are already reported to Chiefs players for next season in the list below:

1. Phathutshedzo Nange

Nange’s signing as well as Baxter’s imminent arrival at Chiefs probably rival each other in terms of being amongst the DStv Premiership circles.

Luckily for Chiefs fans, that’s where their rivalry is set to end as the current Stellenbosch FC midfielder had reportedly already signed an agreement with Amakhosi prior to the recently concluded seasons, where he trained with the club during pre-season.

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Former Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt, then let it slip on national radio himself when he revealed to Robert Marawa that he believed Nange was already a Chiefs player. Luckily for Chiefs fans who are big admirers of the 29-year-old, it is believed that his move will not be affected by the departure of Hunt as the agreement between him and the club occurred before the veteran mentor’s appointment.  

2. S’fiso  Hlanti

A lot of South African media publications are increasingly starting to refer to Hlanti as “The Chiefs-bound defender”, which seems to further strengthen claims that the current Swallows FC player had indeed already concluded his agreement with Chiefs prior to the previous season, before moving to the Dobsonville Stadium, hence he was training with the club like former Bidvest Wits teammate Nange.

There is no telling whether the Bafana Bafana international’s reported signing would’ve been influenced by former coach Hunt who has since departed, but even if it was, it is very unlikely that Baxter would veto it, having relied heavily on Hlanti during his stint as Bafana Bafana coach, including at the 2019 AFCON, where the team reached the quarter-finals.

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3. Brandon Petersen

The former Bidvest Wits and Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper was part of the ex-Clever Boys contingent that followed their former coach Hunt, to Naturena. The young shot-stopper trained with Chiefs during the previous pre-season, in a move many perceived to have confirmed he had already reached an agreement with the Soweto giants.

However, with the transfer ban being upheld, he was forced to vacate the premises with many taking his lack of involvement last season as a sign that he was already bound to Chiefs. Baxter will no doubt appreciate having a keeper of his potential as Amakhosi look to move in a different direction with regards to their keepers next season.

Baxter is known to be a big fan of Bruce Bvuma, who has coincidently taken advantage of the uncertain keeper situation at Chiefs and ascended to first choice. It is believed that Pietersen is the man expected to push him all the way next season, which places the futures of veterans Itumeleng Khune and Akpeyi under threat.

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4. Buhle Mkhwanazi

The former Bidvest Wits centre back has been inactive from the sport for a full season now and like Pietersen, it is also believed his hiatus from the game was influenced by an agreement he would’ve signed with Chiefs. However, reports regarding Mkhwanazi have proven to be conflicting in recent times. While other reports have claimed his move is a done deal, others say it was a non-starter.

Prior to Hunt being relieved of his duties by Chiefs, the club management was thought to have been at loggerheads with the veteran mentor as he was demanding the signing of the Bafana Bafana international. The Amakhosi management seemed to decline the request, citing Mkhwanazi’s inactivity making his acquisition a risky proposition.

However, if his signing is still in limbo Baxter’s appointment might tip things in his favour. Mkhwanazi became a Bafana Bafana regular under Baxter and the veteran mentor might hand him a reprieve as a Chiefs player next season.

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5. Kgoagelo Sekgota

Another of former Chiefs coach Hunt’s Bidvest Wits contingent, Sekgota reportedly emerged as a Chiefs closer to the announcement that their transfer ban had been upheld. The tricky left-footed winger is set to have finally signed for the Glamour Boys ahead of the next season and will be a welcome addition to Baxter’s attacking arsenal.

Sekgota’s deal is so far along that reports even went as far as revealing the exact contract length the Swallows player signed on for Chiefs. He is believed to have put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Soweto giants, a signing that will largely be welcomed by the club’s faithful who has been devoid of exciting wingers in recent times.

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6. Ruzaigh Gamildien

The veteran forward is believed to have been one of the earliest acquisitions made by Chiefs in the view of next season. Gamildien who had an impressive first part of the season seemed to tail off towards the end but had already earned his Chiefs contract and first Bafana Bafana call up in eight years as a reward by then. He is now expected to line up amongst Baxter’s attacking options next season/

There were reportedly concerns about Gamildien’s signature due to his age. At 32-year-old there is not much sell on value should the move not yield the expected results. however, his signature was thought to be one of the very victories Hunt got over the management as Gamildien is believed to have been signed on a two-year deal by Chiefs.

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7. Sibusiso Mabiliso

The 22-year old left-back seems to be the player Chiefs have chosen as Hlanti’s competitor for their left side of defence next season. Mabiliso who surprisingly has been excluded from David Notoane’s Tokyo Olympic Games preliminary squad. The 22-year-old is reportedly already a Chiefs player according to his cousin, who said he knows the move is a “done deal”, which has increased speculation surrounding him.

Baxter will undoubtedly welcome the signing as Chiefs have been devoid of real quality attacking left-backs, and Mabiliso is set to provide that threat down the left flank. The junior international definitely represents an upgrade on Chiefs current left-back options Philani Zulu, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya and Yageen Sasman who are rumoured to be in line to be axed to make room for the squad overhaul.

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