Teenage Hadebe to join Kaizer Chiefs?

CHICKEN Inn defender Teenage Hadebe may become the fourth player to leave the club for greener pastures inside three months after impressing South African giants Kaizer Chiefs during his week-long trials.

The left-footed national team defender, who can also play as a left-back, reportedly impressed coach Steve Kompela and is set to join fellow countrymen Willard Katsande, Mitchelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare at the South African glamour side.

Katsvairo and Chirambadare completed their moves to Chiefs in June, each signing three-year deals. Another player that left Chicken Inn recently is midfielder Danny Phiri, who moved to Durban side Golden Arrows.

Prominent soccer agent Gibson Mahachi, who facilitated Katsvairo and Chirambadare's deals, said negotiations for Hadebe's move to Chiefs have started.

"Kaizer Chiefs indicated that Hadebe, who returned from South Africa on Sunday, made the grade and as it is they've started negotiations with his club. Negotiations are a process, but if all the parties agree, he will join Chiefs before the (South African) transfer window closes at the end of the month," said Mahachi.

According to South African media reports, Hadebe, who uses his height to great effect on set-pieces, will come in to complement their central defence that has the injured Erick Mathoho, Daniel Cardoso, Lorenzo Gordinho and Ramahlwe Mphahlele as well as transfer-listed Siyanda Xulu.

Chiefs have so far registered three foreign players, Zambian striker Lewis Macha and the Zimbabwean duo of Katsvairo and Chirambadare. The Soweto giants still have two spaces open in their foreign quota, with the other reserved for injured Togolese forward Camaldine Abraw.

Should Hadebe complete his move to Chiefs, his former club Bantu Rovers, who sold him to Chicken Inn a few weeks back for an undisclosed fee, will be guaranteed a significant percentage following a sale-on clause they included in the deal.