SWITCHING ALLEGIANCES

CAN A FORMER ORLANDO PIRATES DUO TRANSFORM BITTER RIVALS KAIZER CHIEFS INTO A TOP FOUR SIDE?

- By Mazola Molefe

Kaizer Chiefs wasted no time in snapping up two free agents who had just cut ties with their bitter rivals Orlando Pirates when they signed both fullbacks Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako.

The move quickly poured cold water on the unofficial rule that players do not cross the floor as they joined Bongani Sam, who also signed for AmaKhosi from the Buccaneers around the same time last year, albeit on a fee.

But just how do Monyane and Mako compare to the playing personnel already available to coach Nasreddine Nabi?

Speaking to SoccerClub, former Banyana Banyana captain Simphiwe Dludlu, now a pundit for SABC Sport, was positive about the acquisitions. When you look at Monyane - he is a very adventurous fullback who can adapt to different demands on the right side of defence. He is not conservative at all and I believe the ideal replacement for Njabulo Blom, who was seen as cover in that position for Chiefs," she explained.

The Glamour Boys did not trigger the option to purchase Blom outright from his Major League Soccer [MLS] contract with St Louis City having been loaned to the Soweto giants until the end of last season.

It was more financially viable for Chiefs to secure Monyane on a free transfer, while Blom was likely to cost a tiny fortune.