Kaizer Chiefs’ expected signing of Ethan Chislett has already stirred debate among fans and pundits – even before the club makes an official announcement on the matter.
One of the most outspoken voices in South African football, former Chiefs winger Junior Khanye, has openly questioned the decision, suggesting that Sipho Mbule would have been a more impactful and strategic acquisition.
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Chislett, a 26-year-old midfielder who has spent his professional career in England, has reportedly agreed to join the Soweto giants on a two-year deal with an option to extend.
While he boasts fairly good numbers – 16 goals and 13 assists in 168 appearances for Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon – Khanye remains unconvinced.
“I see the guy, and if I’m not mistaken, I think he was playing in the second or third division wherever he is coming from. In terms of South African football, it’s more of a Vodacom (ABC Motsepe) League where he is coming from, I have been told,” Khanye told the Siya crew.
“I don’t think it’s the right direction by Kaizer Chiefs to be bringing the guy, although I can’t comment much because I haven’t seen him play, to be fair to him. It’s very difficult to judge a player before you have seen him with your own eyes playing.”
Khanye, who has never shied away from voicing his opinions on player recruitment, believes this move reflects a broader issue at Chiefs regarding their transfer policy.
While acknowledging that agents will always promote their clients, he implies that this deal may have been driven more by salesmanship than strategic football planning.
“As for agents, they will always be there to sell their players. Who doesn’t want their product to be sold? Mike Makaab will do his best to sell his players. If the club decides to sign the player because they bought into the story, there is nothing wrong with that, and you can’t blame Mike Makaab or any other agent for that, for that matter.”
Despite his scepticism, Khanye stops short of writing Chislett off entirely. He admits that the player deserves a fair chance to prove himself, but he remains adamant that Chiefs have missed an opportunity to make a more immediate and proven upgrade.
“As for me, I don’t think this is the right direction for Chiefs, but it’s too early to judge without having seen what the guy can offer.”
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Instead, Khanye holds up Pirates’ marquee signing of Mbule as the kind of move Chiefs should have pursued – an acquisition of a player with PSL pedigree and the potential to make an instant impact.
“What Pirates have done with the signing of Sipho Mbule, that’s what Chiefs should have done. Chiefs should have signed Mbule if they really wanted to compete in the Betway Premiership. Mbule was going to make a huge difference for Chiefs,” concluded Khanye.
Photo: @afc_wimbledon/IG
