Kaizer Chiefs Transfer News: Why Royal AM accepted R15m less for Chiefs target Victor Letsoalo
Kaizer Chiefs transfer news are becoming hotter as the season nears start. Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Zitha Kwinika, George Matlou, Dillon Solomons, Ashley du Preez, Yusuf Maart and Siyethemba Sithebe have all already put pen to paper with the Soweto-based side.
And reports say that there could be more with Ghana Premier League stars Adul Ganiyu, Georges Mfegue, Afriyie Barnieh still in the think of affairs at Kaizer Chiefs.
However, they have been handed a blow in pursuit of one of their top transfer targets after missing out on Victor Letsoalo, who has sealed a move to Sekhukhune United.
Royal AM’s announcement puts an end to speculation that had surrounded Letsoalo’s future at the club.
“Victor Letsoalo has been a good player and contributed immensely to the success of the team,” Royal AM’s statement read on Thursday.
“He had a wonderful season with Royal AM last season, scoring 14 goals across all competitions, he carried himself as a true professional throughout. His exceptional performance attracted lots of ‘fictitious’ offers.
“We have always been open to any written offers for this great athlete.”
The Durban club has further revealed that Sekhukhune United have made an offer for the Bafana Bafana forward and that they have accepted it.
“Last week the player approached management requesting to play for a team closer to his home [Limpopo Province]. The president and the chairman, together with the board members of Royal AM, agreed to his request,” the statement added.
“Subsequent to this discussion, Sekhukhune United FC wrote us a letter enquiring about the services of Letsoalo, and later submitted a written offer which the club accepted.”
As they confirmed the departure of the striker, Royal AM affirmed that they did not receive any offer from Kaizer Chiefs, and reports that linked him with a move to Naturena were not true at all.
“The media rumours that Kaizer Chiefs or any other team in the Premiership were pursuing the Bafana Bafana striker with a price tag of R20 million are far from the truth,” the PSL outfit added.
“We have a good working relationship with Kaizer Chiefs and all other clubs in the Premier Soccer League. Had we received any written offer(s) from any club we would have entertained it.
“As a club, we are not going to stand, deny or stop any player that is requesting a move to another club that has submitted a written offer.”
Letsoalo was touted to leave Royal AM to join Kaizer Chiefs, but he has chosen Sekhukhune United instead, and a source close to the player has explained why the KZN side accepted R15 million less than the asking price.
Indications are that Sekhukhune paid about R5 million to acquire the services of Letsoalo from Royal AM on a three-year deal with an option of a year, much less than what Amakhosi were asked to cough up for the Bafana Bafana striker.
Letsoalo had a stellar 2021/22 season with Royal as he scored 16 goals, a tally only bettered by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Peter Shalulile.
“What I can say is that he was not happy at Royal AM and with their asking price, and Sekhukhune saw an opportunity to sign him, and they did that,” the source told the Siya crew.
“Chiefs were turned off by the asking price of Royal AM, and they lost interest and started looking elsewhere. They thought Chiefs would pay that amount or something else to it as they were really interested.
“And upon realizing that they might lose him for free in January as he had a year left on his contract, they decided to sell to Sekhukhune, who also showed keen interest in Victor.
Letsoalo’s former coach at Peace United, Paen Nkhwashu, said he is disappointed that the striker didn’t join Chiefs but admitted that he was unhappy in KZN.
“What is important is for the boy to play where he is happy, and we can’t always decide our fate; God does,” the coach told the Siya crew.
“As much as he wanted to go to Chiefs as that is his dream to play for them, Sekhukhune is also a good team, and he was not happy at Royal AM and needed to move away.”
