Did Kaizer Chiefs just sign Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako because they came from Orlando Pirates? Amakhosi coach explains why ex-Bucs duo were acquired

Kaizer Chiefs assistant head coach Cedric Kaze has explained why the Premier Soccer League side signed former Orlando Pirates defenders Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako.

Among Chiefs' new signings, Monyane and Mako's arrival is what raised the eyebrows more just because they were signed after they left Pirates.

While some felt this was some kind of a coup on the part of Chiefs, Kaze has explained exactly why the two were brought from the other side of Soweto.

“When you recruit a player, you don’t recruit a player differently because he comes from the other side [Pirates]. You recruit a player because of the quality that he has and the work that you see he could be able to do to help the team,” Kaze said, as quoted by SPORTSWIRE.

“I believe that they have already experienced the pressure where they come from, the amount of pressure that we have. It’s not only one team, but there are also a lot of teams that are big clubs, and when you come from a big club, then you know the expectations," he added.

Just like the other new signings, the Burundian tactician said Mako and Monyane know exactly what is expected from them.

“I am pretty sure that they know where they are, and they know that now they represent the Kaizer Chiefs badge, and we have sat down with them as with all the other players that have come in, and they know what is expected, and they are fine with it,” he stated.

At Chiefs, Monyane will compete for places in the starting XIs with Dillan Solomons and Reeve Frosler. Mako, who can also be deployed as a wingback, will compete against Bradley Cross and Aden McCarthy, who is sometimes deployed as a left-back.

While at Pirates, Mako appeared in 173 games for the club, scored two goals, provided eight assists, and won six trophies in total in nine years.

Monyane, a Pirates' academy product, was part of the Bucs' set-up for six seasons as a senior team player. Time spent and trophies won at Pirates made their moves to join Chiefs even more controversial in the eyes of the Pirates fans.

At Naturena, the fullbacks are expected to be as productive as they were at Pirates.

Meanwhile, after an opening 2-0 Premier Soccer League win against Stellenbosch, Amakhosi will be back in action on Wednesday evening against Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium before facing Richards Bay on Tuesday, August 19.