Left-back Bongani Sam has been thrown a lifeline by Kaizer Chiefs, offering him a chance to reignite his career after a period of loan spells away from Orlando Pirates.
The 26-year-old, who will celebrate his birthday later this month, has signed with Amakhosi and will join their pre-season camp in Turkey.
Sam’s time with Pirates was a mixed bag. While he featured in 29 games across all competitions, the past three seasons saw him loaned out to Maritzburg United and most recently, Moroka Swallows.
This move to Chiefs comes after the departure of S’fiso Hlanti, creating an opening for Sam to fight for a starting position under coach Nasreddine Nabi’s new setup.
According to iDiski Times, Sam’s deal is finalized, and he’ll be part of the Glamour Boys’ European camp. Interestingly, Chiefs were also reportedly in talks with Angolan defender Anderson Cruz and Cameroonian Joseph Ngwem, but Sam appears to have won the left-back battle. Ngwem’s age (32) likely played a role in Chiefs opting for the younger Sam.
This pre-season camp in Turkey holds additional significance for Chiefs. It will be the first time the squad meets their new coach, who recently left his post at ASFAR in Morocco.
The hope is that Sam can impress the new manager and establish himself as a key part of the Chiefs’ defense for the upcoming season.