Kaizer Chiefs’ daring decision to bring Bongani Sam from arch-rivals Orlando Pirates has backfired both on and off the pitch. Nearly a year after joining, the 27-year-old left-back still hasn’t played a single competitive game for Amakhosi.
Sam’s move ahead of the 2023/2024 season surprised many, given his limited playing time at Pirates and unremarkable loan spells at Maritzburg United and Moroka Swallows. Despite the red flags, Chiefs signed him to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth.
No game time, no impact
Since signing, Sam has been completely absent from the pitch. Injuries and lack of selection have kept him out all season. In fact, his last competitive appearance was back in December 2023 — half a year before arriving at Naturena.
This situation leaves Chiefs in a tricky spot. They’ve paid over R1 million in wages and signing bonuses without any return on the field.
“Signing Sam was a mistake. How do you sign someone who hasn’t played a full season? The talent’s there, but the consistency isn’t,” a source told The South African.
Ignoring the warning signs
Sam’s record didn’t exactly scream “must-have.” At Pirates, he only completed seven full matches and had intermittent appearances in 21 others, frequently falling out of favor and heading out on loan. Still, Chiefs gambled on him, hoping he’d turn things around — but that never happened.
With two years still left on his contract, releasing him would be costly — a tough pill for a club trying to rebuild and compete.
Once expected to fight for a starting spot, Sam hasn’t even been close.
As Chiefs gear up for the new season, one question looms:
Will Bongani Sam ever prove his worth, or will he be remembered as one of the club’s most puzzling signings?
