As Kaizer Chiefs' striker search intensifies, the Soweto giant appears to be revisiting a European target who slipped through their grasp due to administrative sanctions several years ago.
News reaching Soccer Laduma is that Amakhosi have reignited their interest in a Slovakian striker who they had initially scouted before but could not sign him at that time.
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A long-serving insider with direct knowledge of the club's historical transfer targets has indicated that Chiefs had a good opportunity to sign Robert Polievka under coach Gavin Hunt, but due to the FIFA ban that Chiefs were going through at that time, the deal could not happen.
A specialist with knowledge close to Chiefs' international scouting network has stated that the club's scouts and recruiters have been following the striker's progress and growth, and they are happy to pursue him this time.
"This is not the first time Chiefs have enquired about Robert (Polievka). In 2020 when Gavin Hunt was the coach he was on that shopping list which included players like Thabo Nodada, Kgaogelo Sekgota, Njabulo Ngcobo and the late Luke Fleurs to mention but a few. But the team was under a FIFA transfer ban. Now they want him again because they believe it's becoming almost impossible to get their main target Fiston Mayele and others. So because they already know him, and that now he is more experienced than he was in 2020 when he was only 24-years-old, he is an option. They have been following his progress and they believe he can help solve the goalscoring problems Chiefs are currently facing," the source told Soccer Laduma.
Meanwhile, a confidant with access to information stated that now it's all up to coach Nasreddine Nabi to make the final decision when the team returns for pre-season training later this week.
"The scouts know him. Management knows him but now it's believed that it's all up to the coach and the technical team to make their decision after watching some videos of the striker in action. So apparrently the final decision remains with Nabi regarding Polievka," the second insider revealed.
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According to information available to the Siya crew via these insiders, the player has one year left on his current contract with MTK Budapest FC, which means Chiefs will have to pay a fee if coach Nabi is happy to sign him.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the issue but there was no response at the time of publishing.
The potential signing of Polievka represents an interesting shift in Chiefs' transfer strategy, looking beyond African borders to solve their striking problems. At 29, the Slovakian would bring European experience to Naturena, having played in Slovakia's top flight as well as Hungary.
With Chiefs supposedly struggling to land their primary African targets, this alternative route could provide a solution to their goalscoring woes that plagued them last season despite their Nedbank Cup success.
