Chiefs release three youngsters, send four out on loan

Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday announced that they have released three former development players as a player clear-out continues at the Naturena-based club.

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The players are: Ayanda Rorwana, Sizwe Twala and Itumeleng Shopane, who hardly got any game time at Chiefs last season after they were promoted to the senior team, having done well in the reserves side.

“Former Kaizer Chiefs development players Ayanda Rorwana, Sizwe Twala and Itumeleng Shopane have been released and cleared to join teams of their choice,” read a tweet from Chiefs on Tuesday.

The release of these youngsters doesn’t really come as a major surprise because new Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is a coach that relies in tried and tested players in order to achieve instead results.

Before the season started, Kgaogelo Sekgota was viewed as the next big star for Chiefs this season following his good displays in the Carling Black Label Cup against Orlando Pirates during the pre-season, but as soon as Keagan Dolly regained his match fitness, he was thrown straight into the starting line-up against Baroka FC in Chiefs’ last game before the international break.

Dolly, did, however, justify his inclusion in the starting line-up by winning the Man of the Match award at the end of the game against Bakgaga.

The trio’s release comes a day after Chiefs announced that they have decided to send four of their players out on loan to two teams competing in the GladAfrica Championship.

Keletso Sifama (18) and Thabo Mokoena (21) have been loaned out to Pretoria Callies, while Lebohang Lesako (22) and Darrel Matsheke (21) will join Uthongathi FC in Durban for a season.

“The decision to loan out the four young players is to afford them an opportunity to gain more experience by playing in the national first division. The progress of each member of the quartet will be closely monitored throughout the season by the coaches and members of the technical team,” read a statement from Chiefs.

Meanwhile, Chiefs have parted ways with Walter Steenbok, who was in charge of the scouting department, overseeing the research, analysis and recruitment component of the Club.

According to the club statement, Steenbok has been accepted to do his PhD in Sports Science by the University of Johannesburg and “has requested the club to release him from his duties in order for him to pursue his studies and other possibilities in football”.

“I would like to thank the executive chairman Kaizer Motaung, the board and football manager Bobby Motaung for the opportunity to grow and work within the biggest institution in football. Good luck to the entire Chiefs family,” said Steenbok.