With rumors recently linking 29 year old Anthony Akumu away from Amakhosi, Kaizer Chiefs have now officially announced the departure of the player on mutual consent.

Anthony Akumu

“After initially putting him on the transfer list, Kaizer Chiefs and Anthony Akumu Agay have mutually agreed to an early termination of his contract,” Amakhosi confirmed on their official website. The contract was set to expire in June 2023. The Kenyan-born midfielder joined Chiefs in January 2020 from Zesco United in Zambia and netted twice in his 47 appearances in all competitions for Amakhosi. We wish ‘Teddy’ all the best in his future.”

Akumu back in July 2021 had actually expressed his intentions of staying with the club much longer. “I’d really like to be here in the new season and beyond. I want to finish my contract here. But if the club decides otherwise, I will just accept it and look back to say I am grateful that I was part of this wonderful club,’’ said Akumu while responding to the Sowetan Live.

“This is one of the biggest teams in Africa and to be part of it is amazing… it’s one thing that is a privilege, but you and I understand how football works. So, in case of the decision to let me go, I won’t take it badly at all,’’added Akumu

Although Anthony Akumu is an established deep-lying midfielder, he was actually converted into a centre-back at most times by the then head coach Gavin Hunt, who was sacked and his place taken up by the returning Stuart Baxter. The multiple Super League winner with Zesco United stressed that he was not concerned by the change of position as his desire is always to serve under the coach’s instructions.

“I am a midfielder, a central midfielder, but I can also play as a central defender, I played there before I came to Chiefs. When a coach puts you in a different position to the one you’re used to, it means he’s seen something in you,’’ added the former Chiefs defender.

The Harambee Stars midfielder joined the South African giants from Zambian club ZESCO back in 2020 and is now being linked to a free transfer to either Simba SC or Yanga of Tanzania.

Kaizer Chiefs

For Kaizer Chiefs, the early contract termination of Akumu is actually part of the mass exodus being experienced at the club with more than 5 exits having experienced so far.

Veteran forward Bernard Parker, Kearyn Baccus, Samir Nurkovic, Ramahlwe Mphahle, Leonardo Castro, Lazarous Kambole, Lebogang Manyama, Daniel Cardoso, Dumisani Zuma, Daniel Akpeyi and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya have all left the Soweto Giants paving way for George Matlou, Kamohelo Mahlatsi and Dillon Solomons (all Swallows), Yusuf Maart (Sekhukhune United), Ashley du Preez and Zitha Kwinika (both Stellenbosch) and Siyethemba Sithebe (AmaZulu).

The club is expected to make more signings before the transfer window, with Kobamelo Kodisang and Given Msimango the priority targets, Both players are under contract at Sporting Braga and TS Galaxy respetively and it would take some convincing for Amakhosi to bring them on board. 

But with two months left before the close of the window, Amakhosi still have some time to ensure that both deals get over the line.