Kaizer Chiefs’ newly appointed Head of Scouting and Recruitment, Thembela ‘Tera’ Maliwa, has made a bold declaration that could reshape the club’s future.
Maliwa, who recently joined Chiefs after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns will be faced with the unavoidable pressure of ending Chiefs’ nine-year silverware drought by implementing a successful strategy that will elevate the club to new heights.
The Cape Town-born scout honed his skills at Ajax Cape Town [Cape Town Spurs] for 11 years before gaining international experience in the Netherlands. Upon his return to South Africa, he spent seven years at Mamelodi Sundowns, contributing significantly to the club’s success.
Maliwa is now eager to apply his expertise at Chiefs, a club that struggled in the transfer market in recent years.
Chiefs have faced challenges in acquiring top talent, primarily due to the exorbitant transfer fees associated with such players. However, Maliwa possesses the ability and skills to discover hidden gems that could bolster the team’s squad without necessarily breaking the bank.
Maliwa’s track record, exemplified by his discovery of Rivaldo Coetzee, offers hope for Amakhosi’s future.
MALIWA WANTS TO TAKE CHIEFS BACK ‘TO THE GLORY DAYS’
“We all know what a big, great Club this is. I am really happy to be here,” he said. “I am here to try to take the Club to another level in terms of scouting and recruitment.
“My plan is to identify and bring in the players that will take Amakhosi back to the glory days.”
In the current transfer window, set to close on 20 September 2024, the Soweto giants have been hampered in their efforts to strengthen their squad due to ridiculous transfer fees. The latest players to be linked with big transfer fees are Asanele Velebayi, Fawaaz Basadien, and Thabang Matuludi.
Cape Town Spurs are reportedly demanding R12 million from Chiefs for the services of Velebayi, while Stellenbosch FC have placed a similar price tag on Basadien. Additionally, Polokwane City FC are asking for R10 million for Matuludi’s signature.
To unearth talented players without necessarily breaking the bank, Maliwa will likely focus his search on the African continent, Chiefs’ youth academy, the ABC Motsepe, and the National First Division. This approach aims to uncover hidden gems that possess the potential to contribute to Chiefs’ success while avoiding exorbitant transfer fees.
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