A Kaizer Chiefs central midfielder is expected to receive a lifeline on his future at the club, according to insiders privy to information.
Siyethemba Sithebe has been rediscovering his form after a long injury layoff, but his future was hanging in the balance since his contract ends in June this year.
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Siya sources close to the player and the club have indicated that talks on his future have been stalled until the end of the season, because that is when a new coach is expected to be in place.
The sources added that this may be good news for Sithebe because he has further opportunities to prove himself to Chiefs during the remaining PSL fixtures and when a new coach arrives.
"(This decision) it's like a resurrection for him. It's actually like being given a lifeline by the club. Yes, his contract comes to an end this season and at the moment there is nothing which has been agreed upon but things are looking up for the better since he returned from the injury," said the Siya source.
"He looks rejuvenated and both the technical team as well as management believe if he can be fit then he can still contribute to the team going forward. Also the club is waiting for the new coach to select his own players from the whole group before either releasing or loaning out players. So, first now, Sithebe has been given a second chance to stay at the team," the source explained.
A second Siya source stated how other midfielders in the squad could determine the future of Sithebe.
"In that position you have players like Yusuf Maart, Edson Castillo and Sibongiseni Mthethwa as well. Then you have to see if Samkelo Zwane is loaned out as per the team's plans. They would like to keep an experienced player like Sithebe as a cover for defensive midfield," said the second Siya source.
"That's why they are not rushing to say whether he is going or what. But once the new coach comes and makes his decisions regarding players then a new deal would be agreed if he is staying. His fate could be in the new coach's hands as it were," the source observed.
Due to his injury, the 31-year-old former AmaZulu FC midfielder has played only four games this season, all in the PSL.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment but the club didn't respond by the time this story was published.
Amakhosi take on Richards Bay in PSL action in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. Chiefs will be desperate to bounce back after two defeats in the DStv Premiership. They lost 1-0 at home against Stellenbosch FC earlier this month and then 2-0 away to Chippa United a few days later. Last weekend Chiefs didn't have a fixture because they were already knockout of the Nedbank Cup.
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