Word reaching iDiski Times is that Kaizer Chiefs are considering loaning out one of the players who only joined the club in July.
Chiefs are rumoured to be considering the option of loaning out midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe, who only joined five months ago from AmaZulu, after having controversially signed a pre-contract with Chiefs back in January.
While the 29-year-old has started eight of his 10 DStv Premiership appearances for the Amakhosi, he has found himself relegated to the bench for Chiefs’ last five games before the mid-season break, which has led to the club considering him to be shipped out.
The Newcastle-born right-foot signed a two-year deal with Amakhosi during the off season which will expire at the end of 2023/24.
So much was expected from Sithebe to be a certain starter in the middle of the pitch, just like he did during AmaZulu’s successful season in the 2020/21, where his combination with Makhehleni Makhaula inspired the Durban-based side finish as the runners-up.
But he has not done that yet at Chiefs, with coach Arthur Zwane opting for Yusuf Maart and Njabulo Blom in the double pivot recently. In the advanced area where Sithebe can also play, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has been flanked by Ashley du Preez, Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat up top.
It was the same make-up that Zwane elected when they beat Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby in October, the club’s last official game before the season was paused due to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
With the way Blom has performed, as he is looking for a new offer with his contract expiring at the end of the season and Nkosi Ngcobo having done well in that match where he hardly lost the ball, Sithebe has his work cut out to reclaim his spot.
If Chiefs loan him out next month, they won’t lose much anyway as they got him for free after he signed a pre-contract with Amakhosi in January this year, leaving AmaZulu’s management infuriated to banish him to the stands.
Having missed six months of football, Sithebe initially showed that he didn’t lose his hunger for the game, playing the full 90 minutes in the club’s first game of the season against Royal AM.
However, that is one of just two 90 minutes he has played this season in the league, with the other coming against Richards Bay.
