Kaizer Chiefs reportedly passed on a chance to sign Congolese striker Fiston Mayele two years ago, when his price tag was much lower, before he signed for Egyptian side Pyramids.
Mayele enjoyed two great years under current Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi at Tanzanian giants Young Africans between 2021 and 2023, when he scored 54 goals and led them to two league titles as well as the CAF Confederation Cup final.
However, the striker wanted to leave after the 2022-23 season with the Glamour Boys among clubs sounded out over a potential deal but Chiefs’ director Bobby Motaung reportedly turned him down, claiming his demands were too high before Pyramids pounced.
“It is no secret that Mayele was offered to Chiefs, and they turned down the opportunity to sign him,” Mayele’s fellow Congolese Christian Bukasa told KickOff.
How did Amakhosi miss out on Mayele?
“The player was keen to join Chiefs, but the club decided otherwise because they felt he wasn’t worth what he was asking.
“We spoke to Bobby (Motaung), but they turned down the opportunity, but what I can tell you is that Chiefs would have paid a transfer fee of not more than R10 million. All of this happened before Nabi came to Chiefs.”
Meyele has proved to be a great addition to the Pyramids squad with 21 goals last term as well as 13 this season and gave Orlando Pirates a hard time during their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg at Orlando Stadium last Saturday.
The striker has been rumoured to be among those Nabi was looking to bring to Chiefs but his price has skyrocketed since moving to Egypt which makes a move to Naturena difficult.
Congolese striker now ‘too expensive’ for Chiefs
“I believe Mayele would have made a world of a difference at Chiefs because he is a goal-scoring striker as he has proven through the years,” added Bukasa.
“In South Africa, they have their own way of seeing players and unfortunately, since we last spoke to Chiefs, there has been no further discussions around Mayele.
“He is now with Pyramids, where he is on almost double the money that he had asked from Chiefs. The Chiefs door is closed now, and the next logical move will be Saudi Arabia,” Bukasa further said, slamming the door on Chiefs’ chances of signing the striker.
Chiefs have been forced to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements with Tashreeq Morris signed in January while Kruger United striker Thapelo Matlhoko is rumoured to be among their targets in the off-season.
