Chiefs new striker says won’t make gold and black promises…to emulate Musona, Mbesuma
Kaizer Chiefs’ new striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana has said he will not make ‘black and gold’ promises but strive to emulate his ‘predecessors’ Collins Mbesuma and Knowledge Musona.
The Zambian Mbesuma and Zimbabwean Musona are cult heroes at Chiefs after they took the team to great heights in separate seasons owing to their ability to score goals effortlessly almost for fun.
In an exclusive interview with FARPost, the Burundian said he wants to emulate these two Chiefs’ greats.
“I won’t promise gold and diamonds, but I will work hard, making sure that I leave a mark just like my predecessors (Mbesuma, Musona) did. I am aware of what is expected from me… Hard work and consistency will put me there…,” Bimenyimana tells FARPost.
He said this when FARPost asked him what he hopes to achieve and what fans can expect from him during his time with the famed Amakhosi.
The Soweto giants unveiled the Burundian international on Thursday in Johannesburg, weeks after he had returned home following what appeared to be disinterest from coach Arthur Zwane.
Soon after his unveiling, Bimenyimana posted on his Facebook page: “I am humbled.”
The towering striker had, days before his recall to South Africa, urged Chiefs fans to be patient, saying something big was about to happen.
“Some great news are coming soon, Khosi fans. We just need to be patient 3 years deal…Thanks Khosi fam. Gold and black my favourite colours….Few days left, I am gonna touch down South grounds and make history,” he said in a series of Facebook posts.
The Burundian is reported to have gone back to Rwanda to train with SC Kiyovu after Chiefs had released him, with coach Zwane then saying he needed a striker with different qualities.
A few days ago, a radio station in Rwanda quoted Bimenyimana as having said he opted to train with Kiyovu instead of his former club, Rayon Sports, because he has a special relationship with the club’s coach Francis Haringingo.
“I am in Rwanda because I am not playing at the moment as a result of the war in Ukraine. I am training with SC Kiyovu for fitness purposes. I have not signed for them. I did not think Rayon Sports coach (Jorge Paixão) would allow me since he is still new at the club. It was easier for me to reach out to Haringingo,” he is quoted as having said.
However, the Chiefs coach made a U-turn after the 4-0 and 1-0 losses to Mamelodi Sundowns and Royal AM in the DStv Premiership.
Bimenyimana made a name in Rwanda, where led Rayon to their eighth Premier League championship in 2017 before steering the club past the Confederation Cup group stages for the first time in the year 2018.
The Burundian signed for an unspecified Ukrainian club earlier this year, but he was not able to play for them following the war that broke out between Ukraine and Russia, bringing football to a halt.
The Burundian joined left Rayon to sign for Latvian outfit FS Rigas in January 2019