Kaizer Chiefs Target Bafana Star Thapelo Maseko Ahead of New Season

With the 2026/27 season looming large, SportsBoom has learned that Kaizer Chiefs are interested in securing the services of left-winger Thapelo Maseko to further strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new season.

Strengthening Attacking Options

Kaizer Chiefs are set to travel to Mbombela for their opening Betway Premiership fixture of the season, where they will go toe-to-toe against Kruger United on Saturday, 1 August.

Leading up to the fixture, there has been an uproar directed at the camp, particularly at the Sporting Director and Head Coach, following the coach’s comments in the media saying that the squad is not yet complete enough to be title contenders despite having brought on a few players.

With Chiefs being a very ambitious team, the statement has not been entirely welcomed, with the coach adding that they are searching for offensive options, a feat he feels will make the team genuine title contenders in a league with current and defending champions Orlando Pirates and two-time CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns.

As a result, SportsBoom has been exclusively told that Kaizer Chiefs are impressed with Thapelo Maseko as a package. 

At 22, Maseko could be one of the players that the team could be built around for many years to come.

Moreover, given his experience both locally and abroad, Maseko is a complete package for a team in need of attacking options ahead of what is going to be a long season.

Thapelo Maseko’s Situation

Maseko played for AEL Limassol in Cyprus for about seven months last season, on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Following what has been reported as a rather bitter experience in Europe, where the club did not pay salaries on time, it is understood that Maseko is understandably not particularly interested in returning.

However, here at home, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has hinted that Maseko is not particularly in his plans as he did not include him in his squad for the pre-season tour to Austria.

SportsBoom also understands that Mamelodi Sundowns are welcoming the idea of sending Maseko out on loan or even a permanent deal, a feat that bodes well for Kaizer Chiefs and their interest in Maseko.

The 22-year-old is an asset for any team, and the fact that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos saw him as a regular starter in South Africa’s historic 2026 FIFA World Cup paints a vivid picture of just how high Maseko’s ceiling is.

The youngster is the one who scored the winner against South Korea during the World Cup, a goal that took Bafana Bafana to the round of 32 for the first time in history.

Having reached those heights on the global stage, the winger will be high in confidence wherever he goes, a feat that will encourage Chiefs to pursue the youngster.