Edmilson Dove breaks silence after Kaizer Chiefs exit - 'We had our ups and downs; we have shed some tears along the way'

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove has broken his silence after his departure from the Premier Soccer League side was confirmed.

Chiefs confirmed that Dove was leaving because his expiring contract will not be extended, a shocking decision given how impactful he was when available.

Dear Dr. Kaizer Motaung, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me and my family to be part of the Amakhosi family, for allowing me to fulfill a childhood dream," Dove stated in a message on his Instagram account.

"It’s been a crazy ride in which I have grown not only as a player but also as a human being. We had our ups and downs; we have shed some tears along the way, but we also had joyful moments, which I will cherish forever," he added.

The defender also lauded how impactful the coaches, the fans, and his family have been throughout his Chiefs' career.

"To every coach, teammate, kit manager, gardener, kitchen staff, and everyone associated with the club that I have had the opportunity of working with, here goes my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. Each and every day we got to spend together was valuable. The bond created is unbreakable," he said.

"To the faithful ones, thank you for your unwavering support throughout the years; even when we failed to deliver, you remained by our side, cheering for us. Your commitment and love for the team never go unnoticed. You are dearly loved and appreciated," Dove continued.

"To my lovely family, when times are dark, you are my light. You are my why. Thank you for always being by my side through it all. SALUTE."

The 30-year-old Mozambican became the fourth player to leave the Naturena outfit after Sabele Radebe and Ranga Chivaviro were released earlier. Njabulo Blom left Chiefs because the club did not extend his loan deal.

Dove's involvement in the 2024/25 season was greatly affected by an Achilles tendon injury he suffered during the pre-season training in Turkey last year.

But he recovered and became a regular starter towards the end of last campaign and ended up playing 13 games under head coach Nasreddine Nabi.

Dove, who was signed by Arthur Zwane in 2022, left Amakhosi after playing in 56 official matches across all competitions for them.

During the transfer window, Amakhosi fans will follow keenly to see whether their former defender will sign with a rival PSL club or if he will prefer to move outside the country.

Chiefs are yet to confirm any new signings, and those who will be brought in to fill the vacant positions will be highly scrutinized. Fans hope that the new signings will bring the necessary quality and experience to make the club more competitive.