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The cycle of player transfers in South Africa
Cape Times
|July 03, 2025
THE South African off-season has become synonymous with player clear-outs.
Every year, we see clubs announcing long lists of departures - some featuring over a dozen names - followed by another wave of “rebuilds” that promise a fresh start but rarely deliver long-term success.
From Chippa United cutting ties with over 18 players to AmaZulu releasing 17 in one go, this trend of mass exits is no longer isolated.
Even so-called “stable” clubs like Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United are not immune to large-scale changes. The pattern is worrying - not just from a footballing perspective, but also in terms of planning, identity, and player welfare.
This is not how sustainable football is built.
Short-term thinking, long-term damage
For most clubs, releasing 10 to 15 players suggests one of two things: poor recruitment the season before or panic in the boardroom. In some cases, it’s both.
This story is from the July 03, 2025 edition of Cape Times.
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