Kaizer Chiefs legend Lucas Radebe has shared his honest thoughts on the club’s recent signings of former Orlando Pirates defenders Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane. While the move might have brought excitement for some fans, Radebe feels a bit disappointed, believing that the club could have taken a different approach.
Speaking to iDiski Times, the former Bafana Bafana captain expressed concern over the club’s growing trend of relying on free agents — especially those released by rival teams. Both Mako and Monyane were released by Orlando Pirates after their contracts were not renewed, which gave Chiefs the opportunity to pick them up without paying transfer fees.
Radebe, however, feels that this is not the standard the club should be setting. “I think it’s not what Kaizer Chiefs used to be,” he said. “I think we need to have proper scouts who are actively looking for new talent.”
He emphasized the importance of building a stronger development structure and focusing on grooming younger, hungrier players from grassroots levels. According to Radebe, these players bring a different kind of energy and passion to the field — qualities that cannot always be found in seasoned free agents.
Football has evolved, and Radebe believes that to keep up with the demands of the modern game, clubs must invest more in scouting and development. “Nowadays football is changing,” he explained. “For coaches to do well, they need players who are ready to deliver at a high level.”
Instead of relying on players discarded by other teams, he urged Kaizer Chiefs to go back to its roots — identifying and nurturing future stars, just as they did in the past. For Radebe, it’s not just about short-term solutions; it’s about building a legacy and restoring the club’s identity.