Mmodi Responds To Chiefs Transfer Talk

Golden Arrows winger Pule Mmodi has confirmed in an exclusive interview with iDiski Times that he wants to join Kaizer Chiefs but there’s a process that still needs to be followed.

Mmodi typifies the late-bloomer category that has become synonymous with South African football, where some of our greatest talents only emerge at the latter stages of their careers.

Whether that speaks to the indifferent talent identification in the country or speaks to the struggle and hardships players need to go through to reach the professional ranks is up for debate but what’s clear is that Mmodi, right now, has reached a level of performance that could improve any team in the DStv Premiership.

His pace, trickery and eye for goal within a side that’s known for playing fluent attack-minded football makes him an attractive potential signing, so it’s no surprise the likes of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have been linked with the player – who agrees that after two seasons, it’s time to perhaps seek a new challenge away from Arrows.

“I think it’s my time to move on now. I have an option for one season which would expire at the end of the 2022/23 season. That’s the option when the new season starts, but we still have things to discuss, we haven’t sat down, just talks with the Chairlady [Mato Madlala] we haven’t sat down or anything,” he told iDiski Times in Edition 57 that’s available for free in Shoprite stores across Gauteng.

“I’ve just read things in the newspapers, saying I’ve signed with Chiefs and all this stuff but you know how it can be. I’ve not had any contact with anyone, I still need to make a decision about me moving to the next team after meeting with the Chairlady.”

Having broken into the Bafana Bafana squad on several occasions since the arrival of head coach Hugo Broos, the soft-spoken Mmodi, who hails from a town in Free State, Theunissen, which covers less than 10km², is one-track minded over where he wants to go next.

His answer was clear when asked where he would like to take the next step in his career after rising from the amateur ranks towards the DStv Premiership over the last four years.

“Kaizer Chiefs… I never supported them growing up, I never supported any team but I’m attracted to Chiefs as it’s a good team for me. I can be one of them [as part of the rebuild.],” he said confidently.

Mmodi has scored ten league goals and registered two assists in 56 games in his first two seasons in the South African top-flight, missing only four games due to suspensions.

You can read the full exclusive interview with Mmodi, who also talks about his rise from amateur football into the PSL, his close relationship with Mandla Ncikazi and his passport issues that left him embarrassed and having to apologise to Hugo Broos, in this week’s FREE iDiski Times newspaper, out in Shoprite stores in Gauteng.