Kaizer Chiefs are reshaping their squad ahead of the upcoming season, with plans to loan out a defender despite offering him a new two-year contract, according to insiders privy to information.
The planned loan move of Zitha Kwinika is part of a broader strategy to make room for potential new signings, specifically targeting Angolan defender Inacio Miguel, and with Bafana Bafana international Rushwin Dortley already coming in.
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Sources close to the club have indicated that pre-season training in Turkey was a critical period for head coach Nasreddine Nabi to assess his squad and determine the necessary adjustments including the decision on Kwinika.
"It is all coming in after the pre-season in Turkey. The technical team has identified the areas they want to strengthen and one of them is the central defence where they feel Zitha (Kwinika) should give way to younger defenders like Rushwin and Inacio. That's the recommendation at the moment and we have to see what has to happen now that the team has returned from Turkey. But that's on the table already that Zitha has to be loaned out at least for this season," the Siya source stated.
The decision to loan out Kwinika is seen as a way to rejuvenate the team's defensive line by integrating younger, dynamic players who can bring new energy and capabilities to the squad. A second insider added that Kwinika might not be the only player affected by these changes, as the club aims to streamline its roster.
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"For now we know of Zitha (Kwinika) and Sabelo Radebe who the technical team has indicated that they would be happy if they were loaned out for the coming season. For Zitha, there are defenders who are set to replace him and that's why they want to loan him out. So, they are just looking at clubs who could be interested in him so that it can work out," the second source observed.
30-year-old Kwinika has featured in a fair amount of games over the past two seasons, but he hasn't been a regular starter.
His experience and capabilities make him a valuable player, but the club's current strategy emphasizes a shift towards integrating new talents to enhance the team's competitive edge.
Soccer Laduma reached out to Chiefs for comment regarding these developments, but there was no response at the time of preparing this story.
