Chiefs struggle in transfer market
The Kaizer Chiefs head coach's (Vladimir Vermezovic) hopes of making any major signings before the start of the new Premier Soccer League season have hit a brick wall.
Chiefs, the best supported club in the country, have made only
two minor signings in the off-season in striker Sthembiso Ngcobo
from Free State Stars and midfielder Siyabulela Songwiqi from First
Division side Bay United.
The no-nonsense Serbian coach stated he was unable to get
players he had targeted because clubs priced those players out
of the market when Chiefs showed interest.
He admitted he was keen to sign Golden Arrows and Bafana Bafana
central defender Siyabonga Sangweni.
Vermezovic said: "I do not know if other clubs (such as
SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates) have more
money than Chiefs, but the minute we tried to negotiate for a player
the price shot up.
"I said last season I only wanted to bring in Bafana quality
players but I have been frustrated.
"I say it again, I am not signing players for the sake of it.
Rather I will focus on development and promote promising players
where I can. There is still time until the transfer window
closes (on August 31) to bring in players. Although it does not
look rosy, anything can happen in the next three weeks."
In a candid interview he admitted Ngcobo was not on his list.
It appears Ngcobo, now 26 and who did not set the PSL alight at
Stars last season, has been brought in to fill a gap in the Chiefs
attack.
Ngcobo's career was plunged into controversy last February when
he refused to honour a call up to Bafana to play against Chile in
Polokwane. He has played once for his country.
He cited personal reasons for what was widely interpreted as a
snub to Bafana and then coach Joel Santana, but on Wednesday the
striker told the media he can handle the pressure playing for a
club like Chiefs.
Time will tell.
Ngcobo will get his chance in the Telkom Charity Cup at a sold-out Soccer City on Saturday. Amakhosi will face Sundowns in the second
semifinal at noon, which will be preceded by the semifinal between
Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu at 10am.
The two winners will meet in the final at 5pm.
Vermezovic has prepared two sides for the event, planning for
Chiefs to reach the final.
"I cannot risk injuries of playing players twice in one day."
He said Ngcobo needs to be given time to settle in.
"It's tough for a player to join a big club like Chiefs.
Everything here is different from what he has learned. He needs time
to adjust and I am sure he will fit in during the coming
months."
Vermezovic, in the absence of any top quality signings, has
promoted five players from the club's development programme. They
are defender Lucky Baloyi, striker Mpho Sitayitayi and midfielders
Steven Ncanana, Tshegofatso Ramabu and Nelson Malula
The Chiefs coach also said that losing star midfielder Tinashe
Nengomasha to a club in Qatar was a blow. Chiefs are likely to lose
defender Valery Nahayo to the same club, while Bafana winger Siphiwe
Tshabalala is eyeing a move to Europe.
"Tshabalala and Nahayo are still Chiefs players and will be
considered to play against Sundowns on Saturday."
However, he called on youngsters such as the club's Rookie of the
Season, Knowledge Musona, Punch Masenamela, Mandla Masango and
Mthokozisi Yende to fill the gaps.
"Those young players did well for Chiefs last season and now I
expect them to kick on and progress. They face a tougher challenge
but I want them to show me they can help Chiefs achieve our goals
in the coming season."