Kaizer Chiefs signed seven players in the off-season and added three more in January but from the 10, one is yet to be seen in a competitive game.
Defender Bongani Sam was among the seven players signed by Chiefs ahead of the 2024-25 campaign and it was hoped that he would be utilised at left-back, having joined from cross-town rivals Orlando Pirates.
The 27-year-old failed to break into the Pirates senior team and was loaned out to the now-defunct Moroka Swallows but upon his return, the Buccaneers could not offer him guarantees over playing time and with Chiefs desperate for a left-back, he was brought in.
However, Sam, who signed a three-year contract at Chiefs with an option for another, suffered an injury in pre-season and has been since just once since, being on October 14 when he got 10 minutes as Amakhosi beat Marumo Gallants in the Cufa Cup.
Will Bongani Sam ever play for Chiefs?
Sam spent five years at Pirates but he did not cover himself in glory, being sent out on loan to Maritzburg United and later Swallows.
It is not clear how Chiefs were convinced to sign him, only to go for Bradley Cross from Golden Arrows days later, and even with his return from injury, he is yet to get any minutes under coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Cross and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe have been the left-backs preferred by Nabi this season while Nkosana Mbuthu and Happy Mashiane are also options in the position, putting Sam further down the pecking order.
Sam, who last played a competitive game in December 2023 while at Swallows, was close to securing a midseason loan deal to Magesi FC but a deal did not materialise and he is now left facing the prospect of going the whole season without playing.
