Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jnr has elaborated on how the deal to transfer former midfielder Njabulo Blom to St. Louis City in America came about.
After breaking the story of Blom's impasse with Chiefs over a new contract, which was set to expire at the end of the season, Soccer Laduma continued to make ground-breaking reports on the transfer saga, which was turning ugly and had it's twist and turns.
Read: Zwane's Glowing Tribute To Protégé Blom
The Siya crew previously stated in a special report on the saga, that's now water under the bridge, that Amakhosi wanted to do everything in their power to hold onto Blom, with swirling local interests from Mamelodi and SuperSport United and highlighted that the only way Chiefs were prepared to lose him was to an overseas team.
After going back and forth in the negotiations over a new deal, the Glamour Boys eventually announced that they have made a deal to sell their academy product to Major League Soccer side St. Louis City SC.
Motaung Jnr has revealed that the deal was in the pipeline for months and suggested that South African and Chiefs legend Bradley Carnel, who is the first head coach of City in their MSL history and has a close relationship with Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel was key in making the move happen.
"This one was a while in the making. I feel it's a great time for Njabulo to go and exercise the next phase of his life. The opportunity came about, and it has been months in the working now, sorting out the nitty gritty of the deal," Motaung Jnr said via the club's official website.
"I think there was a bit of a divine touch because we were fortunate to interact with a great Sporting Director on that side, Lutz Pfannenstiel, who was formerly at Hoffenheim.
"He had the foresight to bring in Bradley Carnell as head coach for his St. Louis team, and having a former Kaizer Chiefs player who is a great coach in his own right after spending time at Leipzig, things fell into place very well and very timeously," he said.
Read: Chiefs Promise To Produce More Bloms Amid Youth Boom
"We are very happy and excited to be part of Blom's journey. I want to congratulate Blom on his achievement and wish him the best for the future," he added.
