While Kaizer Chiefs have been pulling all stops to strengthen their squad for the next season following the successful appointment of their admired technical team, they appear to have missed out on a midfield star.
Coach Nasreddine Nabi has publicly expressed the need for reinforcements in defense, midfield, and attack.
The club has addressed defensive and attacking needs with the signings of Bongani Sam, Rushwin Dortley, and Gaston Sirino, but the midfield remains an area of focus.
However, they have yet to make a signing in the midfield.
Afrik-foot has it on good authority that Deborah Fernandes Mavambo, who rattled in a screamer in his debut for his new club Simba SC, was initially offered to Chiefs prior to his move to Tanzania.
HOW MUCH WAS FERNANDES' BUYOUT CLAUSE?
According to a source close to the player, the right-footed midfielder had a modest buyout clause of $40,000 (R742 000) with a year remaining on his contract at Mutondo Stars of Zambia.
“He represented good value for money for a player who proved consistent throughout the season and undoubtedly the best midfielder in the Zambian league,” a source told this website.
“Simba didn’t think twice when chance presented itself and signed the player from Mutondo FC.
“And look at the debut he had. He is a genius of a midfielder, progresses the ball well, box to box midfielder with that skill, guile and creativity anyone would need . He scores goals, and creates them too and can shoot from any angle.”
Simba signed him as a direct replacement for the midfielder Clatous Chota Chama who went on to join bitter rivals Yanga SC after the expiry of his contract.
“Look, Simba even handed him Chama’s iconic number 17 and boy he did justice to the shirt on his debut and the club is raving about him and consider his purchase at such a minimal price as a coup,” the source added.
Fernandes was the target of bids from all the major Zambian clubs, including Zesco, Nkana, Zanaco, Red Arrows, and Power Dynamos. However, the allure of the Tanzanian giants proved too strong to resist.
He has become the subject of a tug-of-war between Angola and Congo-Brazzaville following his successful stint in Zambia and subsequent move to Simba. Both countries are vying to include him in their next squads, as he qualifies for citizenship in both nations.
