EXCLUSIVE: In-demand Yanga striker Mayele speaks for the first time about Kaizer Chiefs’ links
In-demand Young Africans (Yanga) forward Fiston Mayele has spoken for the first time about reports linking him with a move to South African giants Kaizer Chiefs.
Recent reports suggested that the Congolese striker had signed for Amakhosi.
The striker, however, confirmed he is left with a year on his deal with Yanga, insisting he’ll be at the Dar es Salaam-based club next season.
“There was talk of Chiefs being interested in me, but there was never anything concrete,” Mayele told FARPost in an exclusive interview.
The ‘interest’ the forward was referring to is an informal phone call by a Chiefs official, which was never followed up. This has been corroborated by Yanga’s president-designate, Engineer [Eng.] Hersi Ally Said.
Contrary to reports that Mayele signed a one-year deal with the Jangwani giants when he joined them from DRC side AS Vita, the deadlocked forward confirmed he still had a year left.
Mayele joined the club at the start of the season from Vita on a two-year deal. Yanga, he confirmed, had opened talks for an extension and an improved deal.
Mayele said he would go on holiday back in Lubumbashi this week as they take a two-week break before resuming pre-season. The two parties will finalise the new contract talks upon his return.
“I still have one year left on my contact with Yanga. I’m preparing to go on holiday in [Lubumbashi] DRC, and we should conclude when I return. But I’ll definitely be at Yanga next season,” he said.
Eng. Hersi, chairman of the club’s Signing Committee, also told FARPost that the talented number 9 was central to their plans for next season.
“We haven’t received any official communication from Kaizer Chiefs or any other clubs, but we’ve received several requisitions from agents across the Middle East, North Africa and agents worldwide. For us, it’s a privilege to be engaged… But to be honest, Fiston is here to stay; he still has one year left on his contract. We’re also speaking to him about the extension,” Eng. Hersi said.
The team will certainly count on his experience at that level when playing in the Caf Champions League next season.
Mayele had previously played 13 times on the continent with AS Vita. He scored three goals and registered three assists in those games.
“It’s not the first time that I’m playing in the Champions League. I’ve been there a few times with AS Vita,” he said. The most important thing at that level, the forward said, was to work hard.
“I believe we would have a good competition and a good time in the league next season,” Mayele said.
The striker scored 16 league goals as Yanga won the 2022 title for the first time in five years.
The club completed a treble on Saturday after winning the Azam Federation Cup final, adding to the Community Shield they won earlier in the season.
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