Vela Khumalo reveals how Kaizer Chiefs missed out on Emile Witbooi

Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge head coach Vela Khumalo says he had to “take it with a bit of a pinch of salt” after the club failed to secure Emile Witbooi following an assessment.

The 18-year-old has since become one of South African football’s most highly regarded young players, impressing for Cape Town City and earning representation from Roc Nations.

Witbooi was also a key figure in Amajita’s successful 2026 COSAFA U20 Championship campaign. Although club commitments prevented him from playing in the opening match against Lesotho in Mozambique, his arrival helped South Africa claim a third successive COSAFA title.

He scored the decisive goal in the 4-2 semi-final victory over Zambia and was named Man of the Match in the final. His performances also attracted interest from Polish Ekstraklasa club Gornik Zabrze, owned by German football legend Lukas Podolski.

Gornik Zabrze made an offer of €800k (R15, 000 000) for the player, but Cape Town City rejected the bid and blocked the move.

Khumalo, who has also worked with the son of former Cape Town City and Mamelodi Sundowns winger Bradley Ralani in the national under-17 team, explained how Chiefs had previously considered Witbooi but did not sign him.

Speaking on theArena Sport Show with host Mahlatse Mphahlele, Khumalo said he had known the player through his work with the national team, including at the World Cup.

“Even though I was not necessarily involved, I think Emile now who was with me at the national team. The World Cup he was with me,” he said.

Khumalo recalled that Witbooi first visited Chiefs when he was still eligible for the under-13 team, making it difficult for the club to assess his potential fully.

“When he came to the club he was coming for U13 back then, so we couldn’t see much from him at that time,” he said.

The coach later tried to persuade the club to invite Witbooi back for another assessment, but was told the opportunity had already been missed.

“Then later on, we said he was once here. Emile was once with us. I remember he came for assessment, but he was very, very young,” Khumalo said.

“Later on, I asked Walter Steenbok [Technical Director at the time], I said, ‘man we need to bring this boy back again’ and he said, ‘no you guys didn’t take him, so, he’s gone now’.”

“I took it with a bit of a pinch of salt.”