Kaizer Chiefs appear to have learned their lesson of most of their signings being influenced by supporters but is Oswin Appollis too good to turn down?
With the pressure of not winning trophies, Chiefs had to do damage control for a number of years, where they are pressured to make certain signings demanded by supporters.
After loud calls by fans last season, among others, Amakhosi went all out to eventually sign Sibongiseni Mthethwa after they triggered his R10 million release clause.
READ: Polokwane Open Up On Appollis' Chiefs Interest
However, Mthethwa is reportedly not in the immediate plans of new head coach Nasreddine Nabi and with supporters now calling for the signing of Polokwane City winger Appollis, the Soweto giants find themselves with a tough balancing act.
Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr has admitted that they have in the past made signings that were called for by supporters and suggested that "player recruitment in isolation" would not help them achieve success.
"It's tough because we've mentioned the name of Appollis, we signed ten players last year. A lot of the players we signed, our fans were asking for Ox [Mthethwa] every single day," Motaung Jr said on 947's MSW.
READ: Agent Unhappy With Chiefs' Nabi For Alleged U-Turn
"Just like Appollis now, you walk in the street, you get into the garage it's Ox, then it was [Ashley] Du Preez, [Given] Msimango, all the players we signed it was the same thing.
"So people need to understand that it's a combination of factors that combine in bringing about perceived success. So player recruitment in isolation is not gonna help you achieve your goals. Just having the technical team without the right ammunition won't help you achieve your goals. If you're not leveraging yourself right commercially, it's not gonna help you achieve your goals. So it's a balance of things," Motaung Jr added.
Chiefs signings so far appear not to be petitioned by supporters, with only the acquiring of Gaston Sirino initially called for by fans and he was conveniently free after he was released by Mamelodi Sundowns.
However, in the case of Appollis, Nabi had already shortlisted the Bafana Bafana winger before he could even arrive at Chiefs and with a proposed deal between Rise and Shine and Esperance not going through so far, the Soweto giants could feel compelled to make the transfer happen and this time for fans and the technical team.
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