Sports

R5.6 Million and Counting: Can Kaizer Chiefs Still Win the Race for Mukwala?

Published

3 months ago

June 12, 2025

Chiraag

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Amakhosi’s striker search just got complicated

It’s no secret: Kaizer Chiefs need goals, and they need them fast. After yet another dry season in front of the net, the club has made it clear they’re going all-in on finding a proven striker ahead of the new campaign.

Enter Steven Dese Mukwala, a 24-year-old Ugandan marksman currently leading the line at Tanzanian giants Simba SC. The Chiefs have been eyeing him as one of several potential fixes to their persistent problems in the final third – and by all accounts, coach Nasreddine Nabi is very interested.

But now, there’s a twist in the tale. A serious one.

A North African curveball

Reports out of the continent this week suggest that RS Berkane, a club based in Morocco, have submitted a formal bid of $300,000 (around R5.6 million) for Mukwala. That’s no small change – and it could completely change the shape of Chiefs’ pursuit.

According to insider sources quoted by Africafoot and Soccer-Laduma, the offer from RS Berkane is already on the table, and Simba SC are listening. While Chiefs may have hoped for a quieter negotiation period, they’re now forced into a full-blown bidding war.

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Image 1: Facebook/Mukwala Steven Dese

The bigger question: will Chiefs respond?

Mukwala fits the brief. He’s quick, clinical, and already playing at a competitive level for Simba in the Tanzanian Premier League. His rise has been hard to ignore – and it’s no surprise that a North African outfit like RS Berkane, with CAF pedigree and financial pull, would want in.

The real pressure now sits on Kaizer Chiefs’ transfer board. Do they match the R5.6 million bid? Do they walk away and risk another goal-shy season? Or do they pivot to another target like Fiston Mayele or Etiosa Ighodaro?

Insiders say Nabi had even travelled to Egypt recently, reportedly trying to convince both Mukwala and fellow East African talent Feisal Salum to commit to the Amakhosi project. That level of involvement signals just how serious Chiefs are about this rebuild.

Social buzz: frustration, hope, and FOMO

Among fans, reactions are mixed. On X (formerly Twitter), one supporter wrote: “Every season we’re ‘close’ to signing a striker. Just pay the fee already.” Others are hopeful that Nabi’s East African scouting mission signals a real change in the club’s transfer approach.

One thing’s clear – supporters are tired of empty promises. And with clubs like Sundowns pulling off aggressive transfer moves, the pressure on Chiefs to act decisively is only growing.

What’s next for Amakhosi?

While RS Berkane’s R5.6 million bid may have caught some off guard, it could serve as a much-needed wake-up call. Kaizer Chiefs are no strangers to transfer drama, but if they want Mukwala – and truly believe he’s the answer to their attacking drought – they’ll need to move quickly and confidently.

Because this time, it’s not just about adding a player. It’s about making a statement.