Chiefs To Pay Upward Of R4 Million For Msimango?
Kaizer Chiefs' hot pursuit of highly-rated defender Given Msimango is set to cost the club an upward of R4 million, according to Siya sources in the know. Amakhosi are believed to have finally sealed the deal for the TS Galaxy skipper, who had also attracted interest from their Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates having been one of the inform centre-backs in the DStv Premiership. The Naturena-based outfit showed real intent to sign the 25-year-old prior to the start of the current 2022/23 campaign and chairman Tim Sukazi had made it clear the Rockets captain was available to the highest bidder. But when a move didn't materialise, Galaxy pinned Msimango down to a long-term contract to make sure he did not leave the club on a free transfer. At the time, it appeared as though a potential deal to Chiefs was dead in the water and Amakhosi had lost out – but when suddenly reignited, things moved quickly. Soccer Laduma has been following the story closely and it is now expected that Msimango is set to move to Naturena next season, with SABC Sport also reporting that the player has put pen to paper on a four-year deal. According to insiders, the Glamour Boys are believed to have agreed to fork out more than R4 million to bring Msimango on board next season as a new-look centre-back pairing could be unveiled by coach Arthur Zwane. Chiefs have already signed Botswana international Thatayaone Ditlhokwe from SuperSport United, although he moves to the Soweto giants on a free transfer from July 1.
…MLS Options Were Explored
Kaizer Chiefs have won the race for Given Msimango, but the Siya crew has been informed that there were talks of a potential move abroad prior to him signing for Amakhosi. Well-placed sources informed this publication that there was a potential MLS deal lined up for the University of Johannesburg graduate, although the name of the club was not divulged. According to the sources, the player's camp were looking at a move abroad while Galaxy were keen on parting ways with the player, at the right price. Msimango, who turns 26 in May, has seen his stock rise significantly since being signed as an SAB League player for UJ to being snapped up by Highlands Park in 2017. After suffering a long-term injury in 2021, he has bounced back to become the Rockets' most relied on player, and impressively he has not missed a single league match since December of that year. The lanky defender's impressive form saw him included in the preliminary Bafana Bafana squad to face Liberia in last month's back-to-back Afcon qualifiers, although he was amongst the players who missed out, much to the surprise of many in the local football fraternity. The MLS has become a more interesting prospect in recent years with Kamohelo Mokotjo (formerly with FC Cincinnati), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United), Njabulo Blom (St Louis City), and Katlego Ntsabeleng (FC Dallas) all plying their trade in the league in recent times. Despite the talk of a move, it was Chiefs who ultimately won the race for Msimango's services, with the player understood to have penned a four-year deal with the Soweto giants.
Are you looking forward to seeing Msimango in the famous Gold and Black? Let us know in the comments below!
