Chiefs suffer double JJ, Mongala blow
Mqondisi Dube | Thursday November 10, 2016 15:38
Ramatlhakwana was seeking a loan move to Chiefs from his DRC club, Don Bosco. His counterpart, Phenyo ‘Mzambia’ Mongala was cleared by the status committee but the club has discovered he is carrying a serious knee injury, which requires surgery.
Both signed lengthy five-year contracts with the Lubumbashi-based outfit. But their bid to re-join Chiefs on loan has ended in agony after the status committee ruled Ramatlhakwana cannot be registered outside a transfer window while Mongala has a knee injury. Apparently some papers meant to facilitate Ramatlhakwana’s move, arrived late from DRC. Mongala is expected to be out of action for the remainder of the season. “It is not possible. The status committee decided Ramatlhakwana cannot be registered now. We will have to wait for January. We just discovered that Phenyo has a serious injury which requires surgery. It means the young boys we have, have to grow faster,” Chiefs coach, Bongani Mafu said yesterday.
The coach has already decried lack of experience upfront with the team relying on a settling Stan Ngala, but lacking a genuine, recognised goal scorer after the club lost attacking midfielder, Tendai Nyumasi, Pontsho Moloi and Onalethata Tshekiso in the off-season. Kekeatswe ‘Mara’ Moloi departed in the last January transfer window.
Mafu said it is important the team stay in touch with the early pacesetters up to January when the club can make new additions. “If we are somewhere near the top, it’s fine. It will not be good if we are far from the top,” Mafu said.
He has seen his team struggle to find goals, but proved they can be ruthless with a 4-0 demolition of rookies, Mahalapye United Hotspurs over the weekend. Mafu said with the team rebuilding after losing influential players, the objective is to do well although he is cognisant of the expectations of the fans of a club of Chiefs’ stature.
“Some influential players left and we had to bring on youngsters, but the supporters expect us to win, we can’t lose simply because of our situation,” he said.