Kaizer Chiefs reshape foreign player quota as Lilepo exit nears and Ntwari leaves on loan

Kaizer Chiefs are set to go into the new season with a revamped foreign contingent, with Glody Makabi Lilepo heading for the exit while Fiacre Ntwari has already departed on loan, freeing up valuable overseas slots for further signings.

The Premier Soccer League permits clubs to register a maximum of five foreign players, and Chiefs have moved decisively in the current transfer window to create room within that limit as they reshape their squad.

Rwandan goalkeeper Ntwari has joined Kruger United on a season-long loan, opening up the first of those foreign berths. His temporary move is part of a broader strategy by Amakhosi to balance squad needs against league regulations, while still retaining his rights.

Another position in the foreign quota is set to be released with the impending departure of Lilepo. The DR Congo forward has pushed for a move away from Naturena, a stance that has surprised the club given efforts behind the scenes to convince him to stay. He is now bound for North Africa, where he is expected to continue his career.

Sirino status clarified

Gaston Sirino’s departure, meanwhile, has had no bearing on the foreign-player numbers at Chiefs. Although he was born in Uruguay, Sirino was registered as a non-foreigner in South Africa and is officially listed as a “Uruguayan South African” on his documents.

As a result, his exit has not opened an additional foreign slot, and the focus has instead fallen on players whose registrations do count against the overseas allocation.

From last season’s group, only two players remain officially listed as foreigners: defender Inacio Miguel and striker Flavio Silva. Both are tied to Portugal in footballing terms, despite their African birthplaces.

Miguel was born in Portugal and is of Angolan descent, while Silva was born in Guinea Bissau and later acquired Portuguese citizenship after spending the majority of his life there. Both identify Portugal as home, and both continued into the current campaign as foreign registrations.

Mtasingwa Bitegeko arrival and room for more signings

Chiefs have already moved to bolster their midfield with the signing of Tanzanian player Adolf Mtasingwa Bitegeko. His arrival takes the confirmed foreign registrations to three: Miguel, Silva and Mtasingwa Bitegeko.

With Ntwari out on loan and Lilepo preparing to leave, Amakhosi now have two foreign spaces available to use during this transfer window, giving the technical team significant flexibility as they assess targets.

There have been suggestions that Chiefs will look to recruit another foreign midfielder and a striker before the window closes. German Zimbabwean midfielder Jonah Fabisch has already been linked with a possible switch to Naturena, although no deal has been confirmed.

New rules give Chiefs mid-season flexibility

The PSL’s regulations on foreign players have also evolved. Clubs are still restricted to five foreign registrations at any one time, but those slots can now be reshuffled in the January transfer window.

In previous seasons, once a club named its five foreign players at the start of the campaign, those registrations were effectively locked in for the duration of the season. The updated rules now offer greater mid-season flexibility, a change that could benefit Chiefs if they choose to make further adjustments in the next window.

Twelve months ago, Chiefs cleared space in their foreign quota by parting ways with Mozambican defender Edmilson Dove and Venezuelan midfielder Edson Castillo. That left Miguel, Lilepo and Ntwari as the remaining foreign players before Silva was added later.

The season before that, the club’s full complement of foreign registrations comprised Thatayaone Ditlhokwe of Botswana, Christian Saile Basomboli from DR Congo, Dove, Castillo and Ntwari.

As things stand, Chiefs have positioned themselves to be active again in the international market, with their foreign quota now sufficiently open to accommodate further reinforcements ahead of the new campaign.