Kaizer Chiefs signed Siyethemba Sithebe from Amazulu on a pre-contract this January transfer window but they were in a fight!
It now appears that Chiefs didn’t have it all their own way, as the likes of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns were believed to be on Sithebe’s heels.
Chiefs were involved in a couple of transfer battles including that of Sithebe
Chiefs looked to be embroiled in four dragging transfers in the past transfer window, with both Sundowns and Pirates involved in at least two of the three. Besides Sithebe, the glamour boys were thought be actively engaging in talks to sign Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule as well Victor Letsoalo. None, of those moves looked to materialize, however, but they could draw solace in the fact that, they had already secured Sithebe’s signature for the end of the season.
Although the likes of Royal AM did get involved with media talk with regards to Chiefs’ interest in Letsoalo, including a hint of an official offer by CEO Sinky Mnisi, it was the Sithebe situation that dominated the headlines. It had become an open secret that the Amakhosi were trying to lure the dreadlocked star to Naturena six months earlier with their bid to do so failing. It quickly turned ugly towards the end of the window, when Amazulu’s top brass could not hide their feelings on what they thought of the offer they received from the Soweto giants.
Amazulu’s vocal backlash on Sithebe deal
Chiefs were supposedly on hand to offer two players as an exchange to Amazulu releasing Sithebe early during the previous window. However, Amazulu chairman Sandile Zungu then dismissed the offer publicly, claiming that his club should be respected and not offered rejects. That then proved to be the end of that particular transfer saga, with the player staying put at Usuthu. Now according to the player’s agent Musawakhe Sithebe, the player was not short of options before putting pen to paper with Amakhosi.
Sithebe’s agent reveals all!
“There were negotiations with AmaZulu as his club, they were given first option and we did not feel their offer was good for the player (Sithebe) and rejected it,” Sithebe told Soccer-Laduma.
“It was not only Chiefs that wanted him. There were Mamelodi Sundowns, who gave two offers, Orlando Pirates also asked about his availability, and Chippa United called him too, but he chose Chiefs,” Sithebe concluded.
Something for the Amakhosi fans to be proud of?
So it is evident that Chiefs were embroiled in yet another intense transfer battle for Sithebe’s services behind the scenes, with Sundowns, and they emerged victorious this time.