TP Mazembe defender Kabaso Chongo has explained exactly why Kaizer Chiefs should sign Christian Saile Basomboli from Zambia Super League side Nchanga Rangers.
Saile is currently on trial at DStv Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs after arriving last week on Monday. The club has been searching for a target man in attack over the past few months.
And this hunt has been taken to the next level by the injury suffered by Burundian Caleb Bimenyimana before the FIFA World Cup break.
Kaizer Chiefs had to play the Burundian international injured in one of the games before having to do without him in the Carling Black Label Cup.
Ahead of the January transfer window, the Soweto giants have the opportunity to sign a forward and Chongo believes his former teammate has everything it takes to excel at Kaizer Chiefs.
The two played together at FC Lupopo in the Democratic Republic of Congo before Saile’s switch to Zambia.
KAIZER CHIEFS WOULD BE SIGNING A COMPLETE FORWARD
Chongo is convinced Chiefs would be signing “two players in one”.
“He’s a good player. He can do everything – he can dribble, he is good with hold-up play, and he can score goals,” Chongo told FARPost from his Congo base.
He added that when it comes to pace, the 22-year-old forward would outrun any defender in the PSL while also bringing “extra creativity”.
His goals, Chongo explains, are varied as he scores through his stronger left foot, the right and headers.
SAILE IS A TRUE NUMBER NINE
The former Zambia international, Chongo, says Saile’s best position is at number nine.
“He can play as a seven or even 11, and he will provide assists. But I think his best position is at number nine.
“When he plays number nine, he puts himself in goalscoring positions. Of course, when he plays on the wing, he will still create opportunities for others.
“But you want him leading the attack, and I think that’s what a big team like Kaizer Chiefs needs.
“He has speed and can create opportunities for his teammates,” explained Chongo.
GOAL SCORING RECORD
In his first full season, he scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists to help
Nchanga gain promotion to the topflight. According to a Zambian journalist, the left-footed forward was often played as a number nine.
This season, he has scored five goals and provided six assists in the topflight.
“He was moved to the wing when the club gained promotion to the topflight,” the journalist explained.
Chongo says his off-the-ball movement and ability to exploit pockets of space and go in between the lines are his strengths.
“He’s one of the most fouled players in the league. Because of his pace and dribbling skills, fouling him is the only way they can stop him.”
Arthur Zwane has seen his creativity when he watched him provide two assists in 30 minutes last week. Chiefs were playing Pretoria University in a game that was disrupted by the rains after half an hour.
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