Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has given his opinion regarding the transfer of Yusuf Maart to Austrian club SV Ried.
Maart is close to completing a move to Austria having remained in South Africa as the rest of the Chiefs squad travelled to the Netherlands for pre-season.
SV Reid, who were recently promoted to the Austrian Bundesliga, have confirmed their interest in the 29-year-old midfielder and expect a deal to be finalised within the next two to three days.
Khumalo lauds midfielder for getting ‘lucrative’ move
Khumalo, one of the finest players to have donned the yellow and gold shirt of Chiefs has lauded Maart for securing a life-changing move although he is worried that the midfielder’s departure could affect his former team.
“Let me congratulate Yusuf because that’s a very lucrative one,” Khumalo said on SABC’s Soccerzone.
“As a player, you need to have ambitions to play outside the country. I think it’s going to be a different Kaizer Chiefs because Maart played 90% if not 98% of the games for Kaizer Chiefs.
“Who will forget the very crucial goal he’s scored in the Nedbank Cup [final] and I think everything was probably centred around him because also he was carrying the armband.
Will Chiefs feel impact of Maart’s departure?
“But then again there is nothing no one can do about it if he needs to go, it’s okay, let it be. But Chiefs are going to look so different, wait for it…”
Maart was a key player for coach Nasreddine Nabi in central midfield and his imminent departure, added to the exit of Venezuelan Edson Castillo, will see a different partnership.
The former Sekhukhune United midfielder will link up with ex-Stellenbosch winger Antonio Van Wyk and assistant coach Moritz Kossmann at the Austrian club.
