Some of the names that could leave Kaizer Chiefs in January

Changes to the team structure

Africa Today at 07:29

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Some of the names that could leave Kaizer Chiefs in January

Kaizer Chiefs have brought several quality players into the squad this summer, which will undoubtedly add versatility and provide the coaching staff with extra options; however, the club also appears to be looking to make key adjustments by selling or releasing certain players to strike a balance.

read more: Kaizer Chiefs reject a lucrative offer from the US for a key player

Fernando Da Cruz appears pleased with his team's current performance and is now considering which players might leave in order to strike a balance within the squad. The campaign opened with plenty of promise for Chiefs, but the weeks since have told a different story. Consistency has proven elusive, and a run of four draws and only a single win across their last five outings has allowed them to slip further behind Mamelodi Sundowns at the summit of the league table.

Three names are expected to leave the team

according to The Sotuth African, At Naturena, the question of what lies ahead for Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has become a talking point, especially after a stretch of seasons in which the midfielder has found it hard to nail down a regular starting role.

Whispers of a possible departure were already circulating before the last transfer window shut, yet when the deadline passed, he was still a Kaizer Chiefs player.

Now the ball is firmly in his court. If Ngcobo wants to figure in the club's long-term vision, he will have to win over Da Cruz with performances that demand attention.

Complicating matters further, his contract runs out at the end of the season. Rather than watch him walk away for nothing, Chiefs may be tempted to explore a sale or a loan deal once January arrives.

Paseka Mako, too, finds himself in an uneasy position. The former Orlando Pirates left-back joined the club last season, but a persistent battle with injuries has prevented him from building any real momentum.

On the plus side, Chiefs are notably thin at left-back, a shortage that could buy him precious time. But should his fitness woes drag on and Da Cruz settles on a different solution for the position, the club might decide his time is up.

Much will hinge on how Mako's body holds up and how he performs between now and January.

For Nkhanyisa Shinga, the challenge may be the steepest of all. The left-back has managed just a single official outing for the Amakhosi before injury struck, robbing him of the chance to make an impression on his coach.

With competition for places intensifying and Da Cruz still moulding his squad, Shinga must seize every opening once he is fully fit again.

His contract situation looms as another concern. Should he fail to persuade Da Cruz that he belongs in the squad, Amakhosi could opt against renewing his deal when it expires.

For all three men, the months ahead could be decisive. Kaizer Chiefs have already demonstrated they are unafraid to overhaul their ranks, and another wave of changes may be waiting when the January window swings open.