Kaizer Chiefs signed left-back Bongani Sam from Orlando Pirates last season, but the former Bloemfontein Celtic defender did not play a single PSL game for the club even after recovering from the injury which he suffered in pre-season training in Turkey last year.
With the team having signed Bradley Cross last season and believed to be looking at signing even more left-backs, it was expected that Sam had no future at the club.
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However, insiders close to Amakhosi have indicated that might not necessarily be the case, and that contrary to expectations, Sam is still at the club.
The insiders added that Sam would only leave the club if they find a buyer or a team which wants to loan him out, as he is understood to still have two years left on his contract.
"No. He hasn't left yet. He is still here training with the team. There are a number of players who the club are looking at releasing to create space for newcomers but with Bongani (Sam) it's believed that they can only release him on loan or if a team is ready to buy him out of his contract. Remember he still has two years on his contract and it will apparently be costly to the club if they release him because they will need to pay him for the remaining two years. Yes, it's believed to be an option that they would consider but not at the moment. He is still here training with the rest of the players," the insider told Soccer Laduma.
Meanwhile, a Siya source with logistics knowledge in the club's travel plans stated that some players will not join Amakhosi in the Netherlands, and it remains to be seen if Sam is one of them.
"At the moment I haven't seen the final player list of those going to Holland. But what I know is that not everyone will go. Remember there are new players from both the development DDC side and new signings who will be included on that list and it could happen that Bongani could not join them. Maybe he is not in the coach's plans but releasing him without finding a team will be a big kill in the team's coffers and they are avoiding that. He still has two years on the contract," the second insider revealed.
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Chiefs are believed to have targeted former Orlando Pirates left-back Paseka Mako, having already signed Portugal-based Nkanyiso Shinga, and then there is DDC sensation Kabelo Nkgwesa as part of the new-look left-back choices.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the situation but there was no response at the time of publishing this story.
The financial implications of Sam's situation highlight the careful balancing act clubs face with longer-term contracts.
