Kaizer Chiefs FC have officially took an opportunity to strengthen their squad by signing one of Stellenbosch FC wingers.
Fans favourite winger Junior Mendieta, will move to Kaizer Chiefs FC at the end of the season. Kaizer Chiefs FC reached an agreement with Stellenbosch FC. Amakhosi are reported to have broken the bank, after Stellenbosch FC asking them R12 000 000.00 for the service of their star.
Chiefs have won the race of signing Junior because DSTV premier league log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Orlando Pirates FC were part of the race to Mendieta. Kaizer Chiefs FC relationship with Stellenbosch FC is interesting, Chiefs always win races when it comes to The Stellies players. Another example is the attacker Ashely Du Preez, who was sold to Chiefs from the same team.
In as much as Kaizer Chiefs FC fans are very happy, there might be two or more disadvantages of signing Mendieta.
1. Kaizer Chiefs FC have signed four foreign players, and Mendieta make it the fifth. This means Chiefs will no longer be able to sign another foreign players who expected to join Amakhosi. The good example of players who were expected to join Amakhosi are Castillo, a diffencive midfielder from outside South Africa.
Kaizer Chiefs FC four players who are registered as foreigners are; Edmilson Dove, Christian Saile Bosombli, Caleb Bimenyimana, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and now Junior Mendieta. Thatayaone Ditlhokwe is a Botswana national team captain and best defender. In South Africa, he is playing at Supersport United, he is still a defender and captain there also.
He signed a pre contract with Kaizer Chiefs FC on the previous registration period. His move to Amakhosi will be effective at the end of the season, when Ditlhokwe’s contract with his current club expires. He will start working at Chiefs in July, this year.
2. Another disadvantage of signing Mendieta is that, his arrival at Kaizer Chiefs FC will make Khama Billiat’s future with Chiefs be very unclear. Mendieta is expected to get a salary that looks the same with Khama’s salary.
Apart from that, we can also confirm that Junior Mendieta will wear a jersey number ten when he arrives at Chiefs. This means Keagan Dolly will have to look another number. However, Dolly’s favourite jersey number is seven. Number seven at Chiefs has no player, it is possible that Dolly will move to his favourite number, and give Mendieta number seven.
Kaizer Chiefs FC product who was promoted to the first team this year, Mdudusi Shabalala also wants number seven, since it is his favourite number too.
Chiefs technical working hand in hand with the management will have to decide and make the right decision, that will be accepted by their players.
