Exclusive: Doc Praises Chiefs For Beating Pirates To New Signing

Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has praised his former club for beating Orlando Pirates to the signature of Ranga Chivaviro.

Chivaviro, 30, had a standout campaign for Marumo Gallants last season, netting 17 times across the DStv Premiership and CAF Confederations – finishing as joint-top goalscorer in the latter.

His fine goalscoring exploits saw him become a wanted man, with Yanga SC, Al Akhdar, Sekhukhune United and Richards Bay all coming forth with offers, while Gallants chairman Abram Sello had already agreed a transfer fee with Orlando Pirates in a double deal including Katlego Otladisa.

Chivaviro, though, refused to make the switch to Mayfair and only wanted Chiefs, this publication understands – with Amakhosi announcing his arrival last week, much to the delight of Khumalo, who has compared the lanky forward to some of the club’s great strikers of the past.

“Let’s go to Ranga, the former Marumo striker. I looked at him. I have seen a glimpse of Sugar Muguyo from Zimbabwe,” 16V told iDiski Times senior write Velile Mnyandu in the latest edition of the newspaper.

“I used to travel with my dad when the first team was playing. I’ve seen a glimpse of him. I’ve seen a glimpse of the late Moran Samora Khulu. I’ve seen Marks Maponyane. I’ve seen Scara Thindwa. I’ve seen Kingston Nkhatha. There are features of most of those strikers within him.

“He’s not a fancy striker and Kaizer Chiefs used to get these kinds of strikers. He is not a fancy striker, but he will always be at the right place at the right time. And the only thing that he wants is to score goals when he’s in the kitchen.

“So when I saw that Pirates wanted the striker I was a little bit hurt and sceptical that ‘Oh no, we can’t lose this one’. But when I saw that we acquired his signature, I was so happy. I need to give it to whoever made it a point that Ranga comes here.

“Believe it or not with a better supply from the midfielders and understanding from the group, from the team this is the player that will resemble all the strikers that I have counted.”

Chivaviro joined Chiefs as new signing alongside Given Msimango, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Ranga Chivaviro, Pule Mmodi, Edson Daniel Castillo Garcia and Tebogo Potsane.