Kaizer Chiefs could have a surprise club in store for their pre-season friendly preparations, mooted to replace their regular opponent.
In anticipation of welcoming Nasreddine Nabi and his cohort of technical team members, Chiefs management also upped the game with their pre-season preparations in the previous winter, after going to Europe in Turkey for the first time as a dress rehearsal for the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign.
They, however, did scrape off their regular pre-season friendlies against African club opposition, after inviting Young Africans to play in the inaugural Toyota Cup.
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Initially going outside the country for their pre-season preparations, the Soweto giants were invited by Botswana giants Township Rollers, and Yanga also extended the invitation in 2023 during their Mwananchi Day celebrations.
After the start of the 2024/25 season was delayed, with the side not involved in the MTN8, KickOff understands they were in talks with Township Rollers to get warm-up friendlies, as they had a few weeks to wait, after a 4-0 defeat to Yanga in the Toyota Cup.
However, the talks were not fruitful.
With the new pre-season’s preparations underway, this website has caught wind of news that the Glamour Boys are open to having a warm-up friendly with a team from Botswana but that it will not be Township Rollers.
"The negotiations broke down the last time. I don't think Chiefs are planning to work with Township Rollers this season. They (Rollers) have a lot of problems now, players have not been paid for two months," a reliable source close to 'Tse Tala' told this publication.
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"I heard in passing that they will be with Mochudi Centre Chiefs this time, but it's not confirmed.
"But with Rollers, I don't think so. In Botswana, they are normally invited by Rollers, but this time I don't think it will happen," the source added.
It unclear if Amakhosi will return to Europe for their pre-season preparations, with detractors deeming it a wasteful exercise after not qualifying for the MTN8 for the second consecutive campaign.
