Keagan Dolly set to suffer same fate as Khama Billiat at Kaizer Chiefs?

Having lost Khama Billiat as a free agent at the end of the previous season, Kaizer Chiefs could find themselves suffering a similar fate with Keagan Dolly.

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The former Zimbabwean international left Chiefs after a controversial period of uncertainty, which culminated Billiat running away from the club, after they had offered him a new deal. 

Billiat did not agree to reduced terms

It was widely reported that Chiefs had offered Billiat a new contract, but on reduced terms. This seemed logical, as the player was one of the highest earners in the league, but had not helped the club to any trophies, while also struggling to stay fit. In the end, he only played just one game for the Glamour Boys in the second half of the last season. Now his story at the club seems to mirror that of his former Mamelodi Sundowns teammate in Dolly. 

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Dolly joined Chiefs at the beginning of the 2021\22 season, amid much fanfare. His signing also completed the infamous CBD partnership that included him, Billiat and Leonardo Castro, which worked to devastating effect at Sundowns. However, after an impressive debut campaign which saw the Johannesburg-born star notch up seven goals and five assists in 26, followed up by an injury-prone second season which saw him contribute 5 goals and four assists in 25 games, he has since struggled to stay fit during the current campaign. 

Dolly facing the same situation at Chiefs?

So far, Dolly has only been able to play a mere four times for Chiefs, with no goals nor assists to his name. The tricky part is that, this season also coincides with his last under his current contract at Amakhosi. Now, according to Soccer-Laduma, the powers that be at Naturena, maybe looking to get him to agree to a reduced deal in order to stay on. 

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“The Khama Billiat situation is repeating itself with Dolly. The club is looking at his fitness and salary situation while negotiating for a new deal. What happened to Billiat may happen here again where the club is looking at downgrading his salary using his injury situation as an excuse. But as I have said before, the talks are continuing and it’s not 100% clear what will happen at the end of the day. Will they wait until late like Billiat or solve the situation while there is still time? That’s where they are now,” said the source to the publication.

Make or break?

With the PSL set to resume only in mid February now, there is ample time for Dolly to regain his fitness and try prove his worth at Chiefs during the second half of the season, something that could help boost his contract negotiations.