Kaizer Chiefs signing Langelihle Phili will face pressure, says Junior Khanye

Kaizer Chiefs’ imminent signing of Langelihle Phili will place significant pressure on the 21-year-old winger because the club lacks the creative players needed to support him, according to iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye.

Phili is understood to be close to completing a long-term move to Amakhosi from Stellenbosch FC. The deal will also see Kaizer Chiefs players Ashley Du Preez and Given Msimango move in the opposite direction to the Cape Winelands club.

The South African junior international travelled to Johannesburg over the weekend and is expected to sign his contract this week, with an official announcement from Kaizer Chiefs set to follow. He will become the fourth player recruited by the club since Fernando Da Cruz was appointed as coach.

Khanye welcomed the move but warned that Phili could encounter difficulties if the club does not strengthen the team around him. He compared the situation to the pressure he believes was placed on former Kaizer Chiefs attackers Khama Billiat, Gaston Sirino and Keagan Dolly.

“He’s a player for a big team and it’s been long coming,” said Khanye on iDiski TV.

“I mean the boy worked for it and he has bright future if he can remain humble when he arrives in Johannesburg because it’s different from Cape Town. I think it’s a good signing but if they won’t compliment him…It’s like saying you want to eat good food, but you don’t buy the ingredients so it’s going to be difficult.

“Who’s going to cook and dish for the boy? Do they have a proper number 10 at Kaizer Chiefs who can fetch the ball, rotate it, and drive the midfield I mean a playmaker? They don’t have that type of player.

“You have released Sirino and not to say Sirino was great at Kaizer Chiefs, but he’s better compared to the players they have. I’m excited for the boy, but his situation is similar to that of Khama Billiat and Sirino because everything will be put on his shoulders.

“It tells you they don’t want to spend money, and they should have spent money on at least eight, nine even 10,11 players because they can’t promote from their development structures.

“Worse for the boy he doesn’t have much experience. Yes, he has potential Khama and Keagan Dolly were experienced but they were overwhelmed with pressure. That boy needs people who will compliment him like a proper number 10 but he’s a good signing a crowd puller.”

Khanye said Phili had earned the opportunity to play for one of South Africa’s biggest clubs, but believed his lack of experience could make the transition more demanding. He also stressed that the winger would benefit from having a recognised number 10 capable of collecting possession, controlling the tempo and driving Kaizer Chiefs’ midfield.

The analyst argued that the club should have invested in a larger group of experienced players, claiming that Kaizer Chiefs could not rely on their development structures to provide the required reinforcements.

Despite his concerns, Khanye described Phili as a promising signing and a player capable of attracting supporters. He said the winger had a bright future if he remained humble after moving from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

Phili’s arrival is expected to be confirmed during the week, while Du Preez and Msimango are set to join Stellenbosch FC as part of the agreement.