Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the signing of South Africa international winger Elias Mokwana as a free agent. The 27-year-old arrives from Sekhukhune United but head coach Fernando Da Cruz says he will not be rushed into action. The team currently sits 5th in the Premier Soccer League on 14 points, having recorded three wins and five draws from their nine matches so far.
Mokwana completed his move to Naturena on Wednesday, fulfilling a long-held ambition. "It is a dream come true to wear the Gold & Black," the player said. He previously scored six goals and provided seven assists in 65 appearances for Sekhukhune United after winning the ABC Motsepe League with Polokwane City Rovers.
Integration timeline shaped by international break
Coach Fernando Da Cruz immediately tempered expectations for an instant debut. He confirmed Mokwana will not feature in the immediate future due to a lack of pre-season preparation. "Elias Mokwana is a very good player, an experienced player with international experience, he has a lot of quality," Da Cruz said. The upcoming FIFA international window provides a key period for the technical and medical staff to work with the new signing on his fitness and integration into the squad. Da Cruz stated the process will happen step by step. The coach emphasised that the team will not take any risks with the player's condition, noting that a proper physical foundation is essential for the demands of the Premier Soccer League season.
Squad context and recent performance
The signing comes as Chiefs sit fifth in the Premier Soccer League with 14 points from nine games. Their recent form has been mixed, with the last five results reading two wins, one draw and two defeats. This sequence includes a 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy and a 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby on October 31st. The team has scored 14 goals and conceded 10 so far this season, leaving them with a goal difference of plus four. Da Cruz pointed to the team's need for greater consistency and a stronger defensive structure as areas for improvement during the break. The club's top scorer this season is M. Shabalala with two goals in six appearances.
Mokwana, who has 11 caps and two goals for Bafana Bafana, grew up supporting the club. He expressed excitement about joining what he described as a good place with good people, stating his desire to prove himself and help bring trophies back to Naturena. Chiefs are also finalising preparations for a Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final. The club's sporting department highlighted Mokwana's versatility, as he can operate on either wing, which adds a new dimension to the attacking options available to the coaching staff.
The next league fixture is an away trip to face seventh-placed Chippa United on Saturday 28 November. The team will be looking to close the 12-point gap to league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns when the season resumes. The club confirmed that other players not on international duty will remain at the Village for an intensive training camp focused on tactical drills and physical conditioning ahead of the league's resumption.
First reported at Soccer – Betting News
