Chiefs Transfer News: How Amakhosi missed on primary target

Kaizer Chiefs made some good signings in the most recent Premier Soccer League transfer window.

They brought in 11 new players; Flavio Silva (Persebaya Surabaya, Indonesia), Ethan Chislett (Port Vale, England), Nkanyiso Shinga (FC Alverce, Portugal), Paseka Mako (Orlando Pirates), Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Siphesihle Ndlovu (SuperSport United), Asanele Velebayi (Cape Town Spurs), Etiosa Ighodaro (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luke Baartman (Cape Town Spurs), Lebohang Maboe (free), Khanyisa Mayo (CR Belouizdad, Loan).

However, they missed out on Tanzania international and Azam FC player Fesal Salum who the management desperately wanted.

The versatile 27-year-old, commonly referred to as Fei Toto, was seen as the man who can effectively make the Glamour Boys’ midfield department click seamlessly, but he ended up extending his contract with the Chamazi-based side until the end of the 2026/27 campaign.

How Chiefs missed out on Salum

Celebrated Congolese coach Florent Ibenge has now opened up on the reason Fei Toto wanted to stay in the Tanzanian Premier League. He argues that the management convinced the Taifa Star to remain and be part of their project for the forthcoming campaigns.

“I think Feisal is a very, very good player. I knew him before because I played against him when he was at Yanga. He is an outstanding player,” he said in his recent interview with FARPost.

“I didn’t know [about a proposed re-union with Nasreddine Nabi at Kaizer Chiefs] but I feel it was a good choice [for him to stay] because he’s an important player.

“When I arrived, they had already concluded the deal to keep him at the club. He had already accepted to stay and be part of the project. He didn’t stay because of me; he stayed because he still wanted to be part of the project. They had already agreed on the direction this project was taking,” Ibenge concluded.