Kaizer Chiefs have recently shifted their defensive recruitment strategy, opting to sign Cape Town Spurs youngster Rushwin Dortley over Thibang Phete, who is currently based in Portugal with Chaves.
This decision has sparked speculation about whether financial considerations influenced the Amakhosi's choice.
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Sources close to Chiefs have indicated that the decision was not solely based on financial constraints.
The sources added that the club prioritised the player's supposed willingness and enthusiasm levels to move to the Glamour Boys.
"It's not a secret the team wanted him. There were a few conversations between the team and his representatives but the main thing in signing a player is that he should be happy to join the team," said the Siya source.
"In the case of Thibang (Phete) that was not the case. So, you cannot pay the money that they wanted and then the player is not willing to join the team. What will happen? The heart or the mind of the player should be with the team and the money issues are secondary. So, in this case the main issue was the heart and mind issue and not the financial part of it," the source added.
Despite not pursuing Phete, Chiefs remain committed to bolstering their squad with experienced players before the registration window closes. A second insider emphasized the club's strategic approach to signings.
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"The coach wants experience. The technical team wants experience. Management wants experience but they are looking at bringing in the right players. They don't want to just sign because people want Chiefs to sign. The coach has presented his wish list and they are working on that and the team is willing to spend where it's necessary and needed. But experienced players are coming in. No doubt about that,' the second source stated.
This approach reflects a careful balancing act by Chiefs, aiming to enhance their squad with seasoned professionals who are not only skilled but also genuinely interested in contributing to the team's success.
Soccer Laduma reached out to Chiefs for comment on these developments, but received no response at the time of publishing.
