A new player, who has been earmarked for big things at Kaizer Chiefs, has been spotted training with the senior squad.
Who is he and what are Amakhosi’s plans for the teenager?
WHO IS THE NEW PLAYER SPOTTED WITH CHIEFS?
Naphtali Mokoena, a talented 19-year-old DStv Diski Challenge goalkeeper at Amakhosi’s youth team.
Insiders reportedly claim that Kaizer Chiefs intend to promote him to the first team.
“An insider close to the club has revealed to Soccer Laduma that the senior team’s technical team has approved the opportunity for the young goalkeeper to train with the first team with the intention of an eventual promotion,” Soccer Laduma reported.
In fact, he is so talented that he has been earmarked as ‘the next Itumeleng Khune’.
He recently trained with the Kaizer Chiefs first team as he provided back-up cover in goal when Bontle Molefi and Fiacre Ntwari picked up injuries.
“He traveled with the team. What happened is injuries. Bontle Molefe got injured, and Fiacre Ntwari got injured. I don’t know how serious Ntwari’s injury is. But obviously they love travelling with a lot of players,” the insider revealed.
PLENTY OF ATTENTION ON AMAKHOSI’S GOALKEEPERS
Kaizer Chiefs recently appointed Brandon Peterson as their official new captain, while Fiacre Ntwari faces a probable club exit in January.
Peterson’s appointment as captain further strengthens the fact that Ntwari is running out of time at Naturena.
First, he fell out of favour with former coach Nasreddine Nabi when the Tunisian tactician dropped him halfway through last season.
Thereafter, new Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Ben Youssef followed suit – opting against selecting him.
The situation is unlikely to change after Peterson was handed the captain’s armband.
Meanwhile, Bontle Molefe still waits for his opportunity to show his worth in the Amakhosi first team.