A coach's recent international travels hint at an ambitious plan to secure continental success for his club, with a high-profile striker firmly in his sights.
Kaizer Chiefs are continuing the search for the most important players that they are looking for to improve not only their squad but their performance for next season as well.
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After visiting Tanzania on a scouting mission, it's believed that coach Nasreddine Nabi took another trip to the North, to continue scouting for a most needed player in the team.
Insiders close to the club and privy to reliable information have indicated that Nabi was in Egypt during the CAF Champions League final on a scouting mission as he continues to look for a striker.
"The coach is looking at the players who he believes can help the team next season. Not just in the local competitions but in Africa as well. You know they were in Tanzania where they are set to sign Feisal Salum from Azam FC and the main reason of going to Egypt was to find out what's happening with Fiston Mayele. You know he knows he is from DRC, then Yanga SC and him believe he can help Chiefs in playing in Africa. That was his mission in Egypt," the insider told the Siya crew.
Meanwhile a second insider stated that although Chiefs were believed to have decided to have very little chance of signing Mayele, things could change if Nabi could convince him.
"Chiefs have been chasing Mayele for almost three seasons if not more. They had a chance to sign him for free at one point but it didn't work. Then he joined Pyramids FC in Egypt and his price has been rising and Chiefs felt like it's too much. But now they are reconsidering that after coach Nabi's scouting mission to Egypt, it will now all go down to money to decide whether they sign him or not," the second source told Soccer Laduma.
The 30-year-old Congolese international is this season's CAF Champions League top goalscorer.
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Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the situation but there was no response at the time of publishing.
The pursuit of Mayele underscores the Soweto giants' renewed continental ambitions under their North African coach. Having previously worked with the prolific striker at Yanga SC, Nabi clearly believes the Champions League top scorer could be the missing piece in his rebuilding project.
However, the financial considerations are potentially proving a stumbling block, and Chiefs' faithful will be watching anxiously to see if the club's long pursuit of the Congolese marksman finally bears fruit in this transfer window.
Photo by Gallo
