Kaizer Chiefs were in the running, but Stellenbosch FC secured one of the Betway Premiership’s brightest midfield finds: Mthetheleli Mthiyane.
The 24-year-old has been turning heads since joining Stellies from Milford FC at the end of last season, and he underlined his quality against Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final.
While the Sea Robbers won 3-0, Mthiyane’s tireless display in midfield had many fans talking, with some believing he deserved Man of the Match before Tshepang Moremi’s late heroics.
KAIZER CHIEFS WANTED TO SIGN MTHETHELELI MTHIYANE
Mthiyane’s former coach at Milford, Mandla Qhogi, has revealed Amakhosi came to landing the exciting midfielder maestro.
“There were offers from Chiefs and Stellenbosch. I don’t know what happened between Chiefs and him, or how he ended up at Stellenbosch,” Qhogi told KickOff. “He is a fantastic player who likes to work hard.
“He can play as a box-to-box player and as a deep-lying midfielder. He is aggressive and comfortable on the ball. He is disciplined and likes to do extra training,” Qhoqi added.
DEADLINE DAY SIGNING ON THE CARDS?
In the meantime, Kaizer Chiefs are still looking to bring in a defensive midfielder to ease the burden on Sibongiseni Mthethwa. Reports suggest Amakhosi had their eye on former Stellenbosch man Sihle Nduli, but Orlando Pirates secured his signature instead. With the transfer window closing on Monday, 22 September, Kaizer Chiefs have just a few days left to find a solution.
For now, Amakhosi are expected to confirm coach Nasreddine Nabi’s exit before facing Kabuscorp in the CAF Confederation Cup in Luanda, Angola. The match will kick off at 17:00 on Saturday.