Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Lebohang Mokoena has frowned upon the possibility of former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lucas Ribeiro Costa joining Kaizer Chiefs. Ribeiro made a huge impact in the Betway Premiership and is now being linked with a return to South Africa following a botched season in Spain.
The Brazilian unceremoniously left Sundowns to join Segunda Division side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa in September 2025. But it appeared to be a disastrous decision, as Leonesa are battling against relegation to the Spanish third tier.
They currently anchor the Segunda Division and have 32 points, the same as CD Mirandes FC and SD Huesca FC, who are just above them. After being crowned the PSL Footballer of the Season last season, Ribeiro arrived in Spain and struggled to make the impact he had at Sundowns.
He has managed three goals and an assist in 21 league appearances. He also has a goal in four Copa del Rey outings. But with Leonesa facing the grim prospect of relegation, it is not the kind of season the 27-year-old envisaged when he dumped Sundowns in a messy divorce that included reporting Masandawana to world football governing body FIFA to secure his release.
Should Leonesa get demoted to the third tier, Ribeiro might not want to go down with them. That has sparked talk about the possibility of Chiefs considering the winger.
‘NOT A WISE MOVE FOR CHIEFS TO GET A PLAYER LIKE RIBEIRO’
“You can’t rule out Chiefs, but the only problem I have is, will Chiefs be able to break the bank to have a player like Ribeiro? Also, with history, there are only a few players who have moved from Sundowns and came to Chiefs and delivered,” Mokoena said on Soccerbeat.
“I can mention only a few, you had Josta [Dladla], [Jose] Torrealba. But after that, the players who moved to Chiefs really struggled in terms of meeting the expectations that they came with.
“I don’t think it’s gonna be a wise move for Chiefs to get a player like Ribeiro, especially knowing that he played for a team like Sundowns and for him to join a team like Chiefs that is trying to get back a championship-winning mentality and winning ways.
“I would say to Kaizer Chiefs, no. Ribeiro is gone, we will see him. There are a lot of players in the country. They must just look and around until they will get some raw talent they need.”
WHY RIBEIRO WON’T THRIVE AT CHIEFS
Mokoena feels Ribeiro would likely be a flop if he goes to Amakhosi, and he explains why.
“If it were to happen that they have a player like Ribeiro, I think they would have an individual player. Remember, he is just an individual player, and he needs his teammates,” Mokoena went on.
“The only way Ribeiro can perform is when he has quality teammates around him. I don’t think it would make any change, instead there would be more pressure on Ribeiro.
“We saw it when Keagan [Dolly] arrived, when [Gaston] Sirino arrived. Sirino was on top of his game at Sundowns, and he even wore number 10. I don’t think it will make any change, but just more pressure for Ribeiro because of his package if he comes to Chiefs.
“So, Chiefs, look somewhere else. I know fans would be like, ‘let him come’, but after a couple of months, they will be singing a different tune because the guy himself said he wants to leave South Africa.
“He is gone, let’s forget about him. Let him fight against relegation there [in Spain], we have a lot of players here.”
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