Zwane Discusses Chiefs’ Transfer Plans & Struggles

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has opened up on the club’s transfer plans ahead of the 2023/24 season, and explained some of the issues the club has experienced in the market.

Amakhosi have already announced the signing of SuperSport United defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe on a free transfer, while they have also secured the signature of TS Galaxy’s Given Msimango and are expected to welcome Mduduzi Mdantsane from Cape Town City.

However, they are still in the market for a few other names, with Young Africans striker Fiston Mayele the latest name linked with a move to Naturena.

Zwane says the club’s leadership are still trying to get more signings over the line, but admitted it hasn’t always been easy, which led the club to look at strengthening their own academy again.

“We have identified a few individuals and some we [already] managed to get and some the team is still trying to make sure that they get them,” he said.

“But again, it boils down to one thing, can you cope with the pressure of playing for a team of Kaizer Chiefs caliber?

“And it leaves one with thinking a lot, and we never stopped working hard, we never stop. This is a season that we’ve learned a lot out of it in terms of bringing in players, and also releasing certain players.

“We’ve learned a lot out of it, and as much as there were negatives, but also there are a lot of positives that can help us moving forward. We will see whom we will bring on board to come and help the team.

“But again, it’s a case of quality. If the quality is available, then we’ll go for it. It’s always been a difficult situation for the club, whenever we look for a player, when we approach other teams, then they make it difficult for us to get the player because obviously the competition is very, very stiff.

“So yeah, we just have to find a way to help players and one of the reasons we ended up resorting to the development was because of that.

“We didn’t want to rely more on what other teams can give us when we want those players. We also wanted to help our youngsters from the development to get the opportunity to play of which most of them when they were given the opportunity I think they exerted themselves and they will grow from here.”

With young players such as Mduduzi Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane and Wandile Duba all being added to the first team, Zwane does see some sort of progress, even though it was hampered by injuries to key players, because it meant throwing the youngsters into the deep end.

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“Yes, it’s been a bad season. A season that you didn’t want to see us finishing fifth but there were a lot of positives, especially the youngsters coming [through], even though they were blowing hot and cold, it’s simply because of the demands,” he added.

“As I said it would’ve been nice if the core of the players that we had a plan for to say ‘these are the ones that are gonna guide youngsters’, obviously now they will the transition will be smooth.

“And unfortunately we lost nearly 80% of the core. So now we had to we had to rely on them [young players] and they had to now grab the you know the opportunity and as I said at some point they had to crack because of being inexperienced and the demands of the game as well.”