Kaizer Chiefs want to revamp their midfield and attack to sort out their goal-scoring failings. Six Bafana men are on the menu.
Amakhosi chasing Bafana stars
New midfield options needed at Kaizer Chiefs
Bongani Zungu, nicknamed Ben10, has 29 Bafana Bafana caps and experience across Europe. He’s strutted his stuff in the top tiers of Scotland, France and Portugal with Glasgow Rangers, Amiens and Vitoria Guimaraes. His stock peaked, according to transfermarkt, in January 2018 when he was valued at €3.5m (R67 million). However, it’s been a steady decline since. Zungu departed for Europe in 2026 and jumped around clubs until 2022 when he made a return to Sundowns. He made his Bafana debut in 2013 which feels like an awfully long time ago. Would he be an upgrade on the likes of Edson Castillo and Sibongiseni Mthethwa?
Mkhulise is an exciting option
Kaizer Chiefs are keen to approach Sundowns’ technically gifted midfield schemer Sphelele Mkhulise. The 28-year-old from Pietermaritzburg has three goals from eight appearances across all competitions this term. However, he only made 15 league appearances for the champions last term. Overall, he’s made 156 appearances for them, scoring 10 goals and supplying five assists. Although Manqoba Mngqithi has sung his praises, he’s also opened the door to a sale by proclaiming that Mkhulise isn’t productive enough in the final third. That being said, the man is a serial winner who’s been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Could Chiefs do with a guy like that in the dressing room?
Shiny attackers needed at Kaizer Chiefs
Zakhele Lepasa
According to KickOff, Kaizer Chiefs have been linked with a sensational swoop for Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa. The 27-year-old has seven caps for Bafana Bafana but has fallen well out of favour for the national team after losing his place in matchday squads for Pirates. He’s yet to make an appearance in any competition this season after returning from a loan spell with SuperSport last term.
Elias Mokwana
Elias Mokwana looked on the brink of an exit from Esperance last week after his club reportedly breached their contract with the 25-year-old over failed payments. The situation looks a lot different now, however. Mokwana returns to Esperance now after the conclusion of Afcon qualifiers.
Oswin Appollis
Elias Mokwana, Khanyisa Mayo and Iqraam Rayners are other South African attackers who’ve made big moves either abroad or within the Betway Premiership. Mokwana moved to Esperance for 370k (R7.2 million), Rayners switched to Sundowns for an undisclosed fee although his estimated transfer value now stands at R35 million (evidence of the power Sundowns have over the market) and Mayo is in Algeria with Belouizdad in a deal which cost his new employers €750k (R14.5 million).
Percy Tau
Egyptian giants Al Ahly, with whom Percy Tau has won 10 major honours, wish to sell the South African winger to recoup some of the R34.4 million fee (in today’s terms) they shelled out to sign him from Brighton in 2021. Although 30-year-old Tau has been a rock-solid performer for them, they feel his performances have stagnated. Tau has scored 29 goals and supplied 13 assists in 116 Al Ahly outings.
This man would cost a lot of money, and would he even be worth it given how badly his form has fallen off?
Can Chiefs lure any of these players to Naturena, given the hefty transfer fees?
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