Kaizer Chiefs have made a U-turn on their previous stance on midfielder George Matlou and have offered him a new contract.
His previous deal expired on June 30, 2025, but no official statement had been made regarding his future. Reports indicated that Chiefs might release Matlou at the end of his contract, citing a crowded squad as a possible reason.
However, with a busy schedule ahead—including participation in the CAF Confederation Cup—it is believed that Matlou’s presence will be valuable.
The player is included in the squad travelling to the Netherlands in July, where Amakhosi will conduct pre-season training from July 3 to 19. Since the start of pre-season, Matlou has been training with the team, and information reaching FARPost is that he has been given a short-term deal.
Since joining from Moroka Swallows in July 2022, the 26-year-old midfielder has made 40 appearances for Chiefs, contributing three assists. He signed a two-year contract with an option to extend. When his initial contract expired last season, the club exercised the option to extend with interest from Orlando Pirates and Chippa United at the time.
Matlou faced a lengthy injury spell but made a significant return in the latter part of the 2024/25 season. He provided an assist in the Nedbank Cup semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, which Chiefs won 2-1. They went on to win the trophy, ending a decade-long drought. Guarded in celebration, Matlou continued his full-kit celebrations from the final on May 10 until May 15, five days later.
GEORGE MATLOU’S PROLONGED CELEBRATIONS
He explained that his prolonged celebration was a personal tribute following the Nedbank Cup victory against Orlando Pirates.
“It was a great feeling for me, so I had to express my feelings, of course,” he said at the time. “It’s been one of those achievements that I was looking for as a player personally, so winning a cup with a brand like Kaizer Chiefs is one major achievement for me and for the club as well.”
Nicknamed ‘Long and Short’ for wearing one sock longer than the other, he acknowledged the burden of the club’s decade-long trophy drought.
“It has been a while not winning a cup, so there were talks that 10 [years without a trophy] blah blah blah. But yes, I’m one player that is in the history books that I have won a trophy for the club [part of the generation that ended the drought].”
Meanwhile, Matlou’s close friend, Zitha Kwinika, also had a year-long extension at the club after finishing strong last season. Yusuf Maart, Edson Castillo, and Reeve Frosler were also retained.
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