Kaizer Chiefs’ imminent acquisition of Angolan defender Miguel Inacio from Petro de Luanda has created a predicament for the club.

The Angolan’s arrival will bring the number of foreign nationals on their roster to six. Chiefs would have exceeded the PSL’s limit of five registered foreign players. This means that the club must make a tough decision to accommodate their new signing.

The team boasts a diverse roster with players hailing from various countries. Thatayaone Ditlhokwe captains Botswana, Edmilson Dove comes from Mozambique, Edson Castillo is Venezuelan, and Christian Saile is a Congolese national.

With the recent addition of Fiacre Ntwari from Rwanda, the team has no foreign slot left.

Edmilson Dove’s unfortunate Achilles tendon injury during pre-season presents a potential solution. The 30-year-old was forced to return home early from Turkey, where the team spent 18 days.

DE-REGISTERING DOVE COULD HELP CHIEFS NAVIGATE FOREIGN QUOTA

The Mozambican international faces a lengthy recovery period, estimated to be around eight months. This timeline suggests Dove might only return to action midway through the second round of the season, requiring additional time to regain match fitness.

Given Dove’s likely extended absence and the signings of left centre-back Rushwin Dortley and left-back Bongani Sam, Amakhosi could strategically de-register Dove for the season. This move would free up a foreign player spot, enabling the registration of Inacio. It would also allow Dove ample time to focus on his recovery without the pressure of rushing back to action.

This approach has been utilised by other clubs, such as Mamelodi Sundowns with Ethiopian forward Abubeker Nasir. Nasir was deregistered to recover fully last season. He returned at the start of preseason to prepare for the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.

Chiefs triggered their one-year option on Dove’s contract at the end of June. His contract with the Soweto giants comes to an end in June 2025.

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