Kaizer Chiefs could be gripped in negotiations in the coming weeks regarding their succession plan in the goalkeeping department.
Soccer Laduma have previously reported that academy graduate, goalkeeper Bontle Molefe’s camp have raised concerns over the junior international’s lack of progress at Chiefs.
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Molefe was promoted in 2019 from Amakhosi’s development setup at the tender age of 16 and there were high hopes that he would progress steadily as a future senior shot-stopper, hopefully following in the footsteps of veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who also came through the ranks and made his senior debut at the age of 20.
However, the towering young goal-minded, who will no longer be a teenager from the first week of January next year when he turns 20, has been starved of game time and is actually yet to make an official appearance for the senior team.
Siya sources revealed in edition 1304 of Soccer Laduma, available at your nearest outlet, that Molefe’s camp will hold “crunch talks” with Chiefs over the next few weeks regarding the near 20-year old’s future.
Of particular concern for Molefe’s representatives is that their client seem to be further down the pecking order, with no encouraging prospects of getting game, as either Brandon Petersen or Bruce Bvuma have seemingly been preferred whenever Khune is not available this season.
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The junior international, who had a trail at Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp in April this year, has a contract at Amakhosi that runs out in June next year and therefore is eligible to sign a pre-contract with a club of his choice from next month.
The Glamour Boys will need to make big calls in the next transfer window, with Khune’s contract also set to expire when the season concludes.
How Amakhosi approach the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper’s contract situation could also be a factor in their negotiations with Molefe’s camp over their game-time concerns for the young goalkeeper with immense potential.
There were suggestions that the 35-year old could have signed his last contract at the Naturena-based side after he was given a two-year contract extension in July 2021.
“Is this my last contract at the club? That will be up to the club to decide,” Khune said during a virtual press conference.
“I’m really grateful for yet another opportunity that I’ve been given by the club, but I don’t know whether it will be my last. It will depend on what I still have to give on the pitch.”
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Khune has been struggling with injuries lately at the club after a knee tendon ruled him out of the closing games before the FIFA World Cup break.
Although Khune is back training at Chiefs, the club’s stance on his future could influence Molefe’s decision on whether he has more patience to stick it out at the Naturena village training fields or seek pastures new.
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