CHAMPIONS LEAGUE . . . Chiefs flex their big muscles

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
KAIZER Chiefs, who are on a possible Champions League collision course with Dynamos this year, say they have a squad of 17 fully-fledged internationals in a public display of their awesome strength.
The Soweto giants, who have given the biggest hint that they want to hold on to Zimbabwe ace Knowledge Musona as they brace for a twin challenge at home and on the continent, want to sign three or four new players to add to their big squad.

Chiefs, back in Caf’s inter-club tournaments after a 10-year break, could face a Battle of the Limpopo showdown against DeMbare if both clubs clear the first two rounds of this year’s Champions League campaign.

The South African champions want to add to their strong squad, which has about 17 international players, putting into context the difference of the world in which they operate and one where DeMbare, who have struggled to find quality players, find themselves in.

Musona, the Warriors talisman, returned to the Amakhosi last July, on a loan deal set to end when the South African football season ends in May this year, after two tough seasons in Germany where he failed to settle in the tough Bundesliga.

Although Musona is still contracted with German club, TSG Hoffenheim, and will have a further two years on his contract to serve at the end of the current Bundesliga season in may, chances are bright that an agreement could be reached to make his move to Chiefs permanent. Chiefs appear ready to have the forward for a longer haul and the club’s general manager, Bobby Motaung, yesterday said everything now rested on Musona and Hoffenheim.

“We have given Musona an opportunity to think through his situation,” Motaung told the Chiefs’ official website yesterday.
“We have an agreement in place with his German team, Hoffenheim, which we will review at the end of the season.”

But Motaung also used the same platform to discuss, in detail, his team’s double assault on both the domestic and continental front and, with quality players hard to come by and the Amakhosi eager to make a big impression, it’s very likely that Musona has already been persuaded to stay. After all, Chiefs have already told Lehlohonolo Majoro, one of the club’s key forwards, that he is free to leave the Amakhosi while their attempts to bring Lebogang Manyama from Ajax Cape Town have failed despite the two clubs reaching a deal.

Motaung said although Chiefs, who also have a number of Bafana Bafana regulars in their line-up, can field about 17 internationals at any given time, they needed to sign about three or four more players to strengthen the team for the challenges at home and on the continent.

Unlike DeMbare, Chiefs have all the money they want to splash on their targets but, like the Harare giants, the Amakhosi have found out that trying to bring quality into their team isn’t a stroll in the park.

“At the moment we are working around the clock to secure the signatures of the players we need,” Motaung told his club’s official website.
“”We are looking at our development players. As you are aware, our development side has just won the Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Tournament.

“We are putting emphasis on development. We have bolstered the capacity there, we have strengthened the technical team and we have engaged the North West University for a scientific and holistic approach to our development.

“If you look at our squad, about seventeen of the guys are fully-fledged internationals and that should augur well for our continental campaign.

“The technical team is equally of international standard. The coach has been around and has coached at national level and travelled in Africa.”

Motaung said his club were expecting a tough challenge on their return to the Caf inter-club tournaments and that explains their desire to keep their best players and also bring in fresh quality personnel.

Already, Chiefs have tied down tough Zimbabwe midfielder, Willard Katsande, to a long-term deal that is likely to end in 2017, have recalled Warriors defender Lincoln Zvasiya from Greece and expect Kingstone Nkhatha and young forward, Matthew Rusike to play bigger roles this year. “It is going to be a challenging period,” Motaung told the club’s website.

“We are going to require lots of energy and strength. Football is very interesting, when you don’t play enough games you complain and when the games come thick and fast you also complain.

“This is the time to be tested and to face reality.
“It’s going to be take a balance of the league programme and travelling. We will need to plan properly and I think we are geared for the road ahead.

“There will be minimum postponement of the league fixtures, as we will be starting by travelling across neighbouring countries. It is a matter of adapting to playing on weekend and midweek.

“We need to have a strong mental strength and also to be consistent. We are looking at three or four players to add on and strengthen certain positions in the team.

“Most of the pundits have not flagged the fact at the beginning of last season we brought in seven players — Gould, Mathoho, Gaxa, Masilela, Nkhatha, Moleko and Rusike.

“The supporters and the media will always have their wish list in terms of who must come and go at Chiefs. But they must understand that we are involved in a competitive business.”

Motaung said bringing in quality players was not as easy as it seemed.
“The other clubs would like to hold on to their good players and the players, too, have dreams and ambitions to satisfy.

“Some clubs will not let go of their players to Chiefs fearing that we will conquer both Africa and the domestic league. Sometimes you find that the players that are available on the market are not what you need.

“There is also a matter of respect, players contracts and their clubs, it’s a complex situation.”