Bongani Sam set for fresh start post Chiefs departure

The 28-year-old has been training with the Chilli Boys for several weeks in hopes of earning a contract following his departure from Kaizer Chiefs after just one season. 

A return to his home province in the Eastern Cape now offers him a much-needed fresh start, albeit at a struggling team. 

Sam became Chiefs’ first signing under Nasreddine Nabi in July last year, but an early injury during pre-season in Turkey derailed his progress. 

By the time he recovered, competition for places had intensified, and game time proved a hard commodity at the time – and roughly a year later, the former Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic left back reached a settlement to part ways with Amakhosi.

Sam briefly trained with TS Galaxy, but that potential move failed to materialise as the club delayed making a formal offer. 

Now, according to information gathered by the public broadcaster, the left back is expected to sign a one-year contract with Chippa, pending final paperwork, before becoming eligible for selection under new coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi.

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Chippa are in desperate need of reinforcements, sitting bottom of the Betway Premiership with just one win from 12 matches after already parting ways with two coaches this season in Sinethemba Badela and Luc Eymael. 

Vilakazi faces a difficult task to lift the struggling side, and Sam’s arrival should add much-needed depth and experience to a leaky defence.