Kaizer Chiefs to spend R10 million on player they released for free?

A return to Naturena?

The Kaizer Chiefs Naturena Village in all its glory. Image: Ernest Makhaya

Kaizer Chiefs are ready to raid Cape Town Spurs but this time it’s not for winger Asanele Velebayi. Here’s the latest.

Chiefs target youth product Bhengu

According to SoccerLaduma, Kaizer Chiefs want to bring former player Lungelo Bhengu back to the club. The 24-year-old defender came through the ranks at Naturena but was deemed not good enough and released in 2019 to Maritzburg. Bhengu, a right-back, is seen as an upgrade on current options Reeve Frosler and Dillan Solomons. His arrival would also allow the club to shift Njabulo Blom back into his preferred central midfield role.

“The interest is there but now they have to consider the money that they will pay. You know he was in their development until 2019 when he left to join Maritzburg United. Actually, he was released and unfortunately they want him back now and it will cost them more money. From what I know, his price ranges between R5m to R10m but it’s subject to negotiations. You should remember he is only 24 years old and has a great future ahead of him. So let’s wait and see,” the SL source revealed.

“If this happens it won’t be for the first time. It happened with Zitha Kwinika as well as Mduduzi Mdantsane. Both of them are Chiefs development products but look at how much they paid for them. It’s about to happen again now with Lungelo Bhengu. Maybe this will be a lesson to them this time around,” the source concluded.

Chiefs have spent big on Mdantsane and Kwinika in the past

If Bhengu arrived, it wouldn’t be the first time Chiefs have splurged big cash on players they nurtured in their development structures before allowing them to leave. It’s estimated that Chiefs spent R15 million in collective transfer fees on Mduduzi Mdantsane and Zitha Kwinika, two players who spent periods in their youth development system.

Would you like to see Bhengu return to Chiefs?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.