Kaizer Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr. has discussed the club's interest in Stellenbosch FC left-back Fawaaz Basadien and Cape Town Spurs star Asanele Velebayi.
Both players have been primary targets for Amakhosi during this transfer window. However, the asking prices for both players have been too high for the Soweto giants.
Motaung confirmed Chiefs' interest in Velebayi but denied rumors that they had spoken to his parents. The transfer negotiations between Chiefs and Spurs ultimately fell through due to disagreements over the transfer fee.
MOTAUNG ON VELEBAYI – ‘I WANT TO CLEAR UP THIS POINT’
“We did make an official offer to Cape Town Spurs,” Motaung Jr said on Radio 200.
“We had engaged with them. Of course, Spurs they priced their player the way they see fit.
“It’s gotta make sense on both ends, and valuations have to be based on certain things.
“And a very important point that I want to clear up as a club, we’ve never spoken to the player, never spoke to his parents.
“I think there’s a misconception out there, because we have always prided ourselves in being professional and engaging in the right way.
“I subsequently had a call with Alexi [Efstathiou] after that to address that. He apologized and clarified the fact of the miscommunication.
“Definitely an interest in the player. We definitely would love to see a player like him join us, but they [Spurs] are within their rights to decide against that,” he added.
Motaung also acknowledged that Chiefs have been interested in Basadien for several seasons.
Ultimately, Chiefs decided to sign Bradley Cross after failing to acquire Basadien, Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu FC), and Anderson Cruz (Petro de Luanda).
CHIEFS SPORTING DIRECTOR ON POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH STELLENBOSCH & BASADIEN INTEREST
“Basadien, great talent,” Motaung Jr added.
“We’re very transparent. We’ve always had a very positive relationship with Stellenbosch.
“Basadien has been on our radar for a couple of seasons now.
“I think sometimes it’s just an issue of timing. When things are happening at the right time or not. It’s also tough to talk about players who belong to other teams.
“It’s also not very professional to do that in the media every week talking about different candidates. That kind of causes destabilisation within other teams.
“We wouldn’t want people to be doing that about us.”
