Kaizer Chiefs have bolstered their attacking threat with the acquisition of DR Congo forward Christian Saile Basomboli in a desperate bid to arrest their poor form since the restart of the DStv Premiership following the World Cup in Qatar.
The 22-year-old is little known outside of Zambia, where he had been plying his trade for Nchanga Rangers, helping them to promotion to the MTN Super League at the end of last season.
He is a left-footed attacker who can play on the wing, where Chiefs are likely to use him, or in a more central role, where they have found Burundian forward Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana hit and miss.
Saile, as he is more commonly known, netted 19 goals in helping Rangers to promotion last season and had seven in this year’s Super League campaign, where the side sit just two points above the relegation zone.
It is therefore a risk for them to sell their prized asset but they might also have been keen to cash in ahead of a potential return to the second-tier.
He had been at the club for a few seasons after joining from FC Lupopo in his homeland and was predominantly used on the wing.
He can play anywhere across the front three but likes to be on the right where he can then cut inside and use his left foot to either take a shot or cross.
Saile has a full bag of tricks, as so many Congoloese players do, and can tease defenders with his quick feet, working space for himself and beating defenders with a burst into the box.
He is also strong for a winger, and is not afraid to use his body to out-muscle defenders. His pace is another major attribute.
He is perhaps still quite raw, but there is plenty there for Chiefs’ coaches to work with, though they have already said they would like for him to hit the ground running.
After an extensive trial in December, they know what they are getting and head coach Arthur Zwane has expressed his excitement at seeing Saile in action.
But having the talent and ability is one thing, as many foreign forwards find the step up from their previous league to the South African topflight is a difficult one.
Chiefs do not have to look too far back for their own example of this. Lazarous Kambole was flying at ZESCO United when he joined the AmaKhosi in 2019, but his stay in the DStv Premiership was nothing short of a disaster.
He scored two goals in 46 appearances over three seasons and proved an expensive mistake for club management. He left for Tanzanian outfit Young Africans ahead of this season and is now on loan back at ZESCO.
Chiefs will expect much, much more goal-threat from Saile, even if he is likely to hang out wide.
Their new arrival may also rival Bimenyimana for the penalty-taking duties, the latter having missed some crucial kicks this season.
Saile’s last two goals for Rangers were both from the penalty spot against Zanaco on January 14.
He is not the first Congolese star to sign for Chiefs, the likes of goalkeeper Eshele Botende and forward Kabamba Musasa are others who have worn the black and gold with distinction in the past.