Maboe On Chiefs’ Return: I Have Unfinished Business At Amakhosi

Kaizer Chiefs’ new signing, Lebohang Maboe, has expressed why he “returned home” to play for the club where he started his career.

Maboe, a 31-year-old midfielder, was recently signed by the Chiefs after being released by Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of last season.

For Maboe, this move is a homecoming to the club’s development academy where his journey began before he went on to build his professional career elsewhere.

“I wanted to be back home, I wanted to be back at Kaizer Chiefs, the senior team that is,” Maboe said.

“I felt like, in how I also left, I had somewhat unfinished business with the team, and coming back home right now is such a great feeling.”

The Chiefs’ interest in Maboe dates back to his time at Maritzburg United, but Sundowns ultimately secured his signing before the 2018/19 season.

Interestingly, Maboe famously dealt a blow to Chiefs’ title hopes by scoring a hat-trick for Sundowns in the final match of the 2019/20 season against Black Leopards.

That win helped Sundowns secure the league title, snatching it from the grasp of the Chiefs, who only needed a win on the final day but were held to a draw by Baroka FC.

Maboe now wants to repay the club for that costly dent, which was the last time the Chiefs came close to winning the league.

According to Maboe, talks about him joining the Chiefs began in June after he learned he wouldn’t be returning to Sundowns, who had loaned him to SuperSport United for the second half of the previous season.

“Once I knew I wasn’t going to go back to Sundowns, which happened in June, that is when I knew and talks started,” Maboe explained.

“It was unfortunate because I had to undergo shoulder surgery, but I think the team has been so patient with me. Now it’s just about being back home, and all I’m looking to do is repay the faith they have shown in me and continue to work hard.”