Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabo Moloisane has revealed it was a long road to joining Amakhosi, recalling the club’s three-year pursuit of his signature.
The 27-year-old centre-back was recently confirmed as a Chiefs player, joining the Soweto giants as a free agent following his departure from Stellenbosch FC. Having spent three seasons at the Cape Winelands side, Moloisane arrived at Amakhosi armed with top-flight league football experience, including one season at Maritzburg United.
Although he was not part of the Bafana Bafana squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he is a South African international defender. That could underline his qualities, and he joins Chiefs at a time when their players are slowly making their way back into the national team after falling out of favour with Bafana coach Hugo Broos in recent seasons.
MOLOISANE’S FAMILIAR RETURN TO KAIZER CHIEFS AFTER ‘IT TOOK A BIT LONG’
During his debut Betway Premiership season with Maritzburg United, Moloisane caught the eye of the Soweto giants but ultimately ended up in the Cape Winelands, delaying his move to Chiefs. But before making his professional breakthrough, he was a regular visitor at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena.
“To be honest, it took a bit long. It was ‘on the cards’ for about three years. When my agent informed me of the move, I was a little surprised and very happy because it meant that I was doing well to be wanted by Chiefs,” Moloisane was quoted as saying on the Amakhosi website during their pre-season training camp in Spain.
“I spent time at Naturena when I was a young boy learning under the supervision of the kitman at the time, so it’s a place I know pretty well; it’s a part of my youth, and I grew up loving the club, and this is a dream come true for me.
“My first ‘task’ as a young boy at Chiefs was to collect tickets for a match, and now I am one of the players who will represent Chiefs in front of the supporters. It means so much to me to be at the biggest club in South Africa. It comes with a responsibility to maintain the high standards that have made this club great.”
MORE OPTIONS FOR NEW CHIEFS COACH DA CRUZ IN CENTRAL DEFENCE
Having previously spent six years playing for Mamelodi Sundowns development teams, Moloisane is now at Naturena, where he is keen to cement a place in the starting line-up. His signing gives coach Fernando da Cruz more choices in central defence.
Da Cruz’s options at the heart of defence also include Inacio Miguel, Given Msimango, Zitha Kwinika and a fit-again Rushwin Dortely. Moloisane details how he became a centre-back.
“I started out at Bophelo Impilo Academy and was scouted eight months later by Sundowns, where I was from age 14 until I was 20,” he revealed. “I was originally a midfielder and frequently a striker, although when Sundowns scouted me, I was playing at centre-back. At Sundowns, coach Godfrey Sapula converted me to a right back before I reverted to centre-back a bit later.”
WHAT IS CRUCIAL ABOUT SPAIN CAMP AS MOLOISANE SPELLS OUT CHIEFS’ AMBITIONS
Moloisane made his unofficial Chiefs debut when he featured in a pre-season friendly match against Rangers FC on Sunday. The defender opened up about the environment in Murcia, Spain, where the Soweto giants are currently camped.
While explaining how key their pre-season training in Europe has been, Moloisane is also bold about their goals.
“The weather has been pretty hot, but we have trained well and training in these conditions will benefit us during the season when we play both at home and in Africa [CAF Confederation Cup]. We are building a sense of unity among us to carry into the new season,” added Moloisane.
“I would love them [Chiefs fans] to come out and support us in numbers. We are going to be very ambitious this season in all competitions we are in, so I encourage them to be part of our journey as our 12th man, and we will do everything we can to give them something to celebrate.”
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