With the Etiosa Ighodaro transfer over the line, Kaizer Chiefs fans will be eagerly anticipating the striker’s debut. However, there are two key issues that Amakhosi must address promptly, which may delay his maiden appearance for the club.
Ighodaro’s long-drawn transfer saga saw him miss out on pre-season. The Nigerian forward received his clearance on Monday, and Chiefs announced him as their new player a day later.
At half-time during the 1-0 win over Richards Bay FC in a league tie, he was paraded in front of the fans at the FNB Stadium alongside Luke Baartman and Asanele Velebayi on Tuesday night. The former Cape Town Spurs duo also joined Amakhosi in recent days.
With Velebayi and Baartman, it is clear they have to wait for the outcome of Spurs’ appeal before they feature for their new club. The big question now is when Ighodaro will be available to make his debut for the Soweto giants.
WHAT TWO THINGS DO CHIEFS NEED TO ADDRESS BEFORE IGHODARO DEBUT
Being a foreign national, the club now needs to secure his work visa that allows him to play for Amakhosi. According to an immigration consultant, “You can’t use your previous employer’s work visa as a foreign national. You will need to apply for a new visa when you start a new job, which will specify that you are in South Africa, employed by your new employer. That applies to footballers unless you hold permanent residence.”
Last season, while Ighodaro played for AmaZulu FC, he was registered as a foreigner. It means he still needs to apply for his permanent residence, which will allow him to be registered as a local.
The second thing his new club need to address is his fitness. Chiefs’ assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef indicated that newly signed left back Nkanyiso Shinga “still has some fitness work to do…”
Like Shinga, who is yet to play an official match for Chiefs, Ighodaro still needs to work on his fitness before he is ready to play competitive football. He did not have a pre-season and will have to work hard to prepare himself for competition.
Chiefs face Mamelodi Sundowns next Wednesday in a league encounter, before visiting Golden Arrows. Thereafter, they have a lengthy break as the Betway Premiership makes way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
That period will give Ighodaro and Chiefs time to sort things out and get him ready as they venture into the CAF Confederation Cup on the weekend of September 19.
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