After spending a few weeks with Kaizer Chiefs before the end of the season, a Portuguese-based South African defender appears to have earned another opportunity to impress Amakhosi's technical team.
As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, defender Mhleli Mabuza had trained with Amakhosi and impressed the technical team.
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A high-ranking Naturena insider with knowledge of player recruitment has indicated that Chiefs are now believed to have invited Mabuza to join the team when they return for pre-season today, 20 June, at Naturena as they start their preparations for next season.
"Yes, the club has invited Mhleli (Mabuza) for the pre-season training here at home. I am not sure as it's not clear whether they will be traveling with him when the team leaves for Netherlands. But it's believed that he impressed the first time he was here training with the team though it was for a short time but now they want to have a look at him again before making a final decision whether to sign him or not," the source told Soccer Laduma.
A European football expert with connections to both South African and Portuguese clubs added that there is another club in Portugal which is also interested in the KZN-born defender.
"Chiefs have to make their decision quick because there is also interest in the player from a team in Portugal. You know he has been playing in Portugal and they know him and that could be the advantage at this point. But Chiefs also have an advantage as his friend Thabo Cele, who stayed together with him in Portugal, is at Chiefs. But that's the situation right now," the second insider revealed.
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Last season while playing for Louletano in Portugal, the 24-year-old featured in many games.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for official comment on the situation but there was no response at the time of preparing this story.
The extended trial period suggests Chiefs are taking a measured approach to their defensive reinforcements, giving Mabuza an opportunity to prove himself in a more structured pre-season environment. Having already had a brief glimpse of his abilities, this second look indicates genuine interest but also a desire for certainty before committing to a contract.
With competing interest from Portugal, where he's already established, the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether the young defender's future lies in his homeland or continues in Europe.
