During the pre-season, it was reported for quite some time that Bafana Bafana playmaker Pule Mmodi was one of the latest stars on Kaizer Chiefs’ target list, but eventually it emerged that he was set to stay with Golden Arrows as negotiations hit a stumbling block.
Ultimately, Mmodi has refocused his efforts at Arrows, found good form and fought his way onto the Bafana Bafana radar.
It’s recently been reported by Soccer Laduma that Arrows are keen to extend the contract of Mmodi, who has less than 10 months left on his contract.
Such an extension would serve as a real show of intent and end any hopes Chiefs had of snapping up the 29-year-old in the next transfer window. Amakhosi are said to be monitoring the situation, though.
As per edition 1294 of Soccer Laduma, Chiefs are also no longer the only side to have expressed interest in Mmodi, with AmaZulu apparently also having made an enquiry about his services.
Reportedly, Usuthu were even quite close to securing his services before the last window closed.
A few weeks ago, Mmodi opened up on his emotions after the Chiefs move didn’t materialise.
“I was never disturbed. Since the move didn’t happen, I told myself that I will work hard and there’s nothing I can do,” Mmodi said after he was asked by iDiski Times. “But initially I was down, but there was nothing I could do.”
Arrows co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi also previously shared his thoughts on the saga.
“It wasn’t easy, I must be honest. In our first week it was very difficult to deal with Pule psychologically because he was too sure that he is leaving the club,” the Arrows coach said, as quoted by SABC Sport.
“But what we reminded him is that the club is not fighting [against] Pule. The club is the one that said, ‘Pule, if you find something, come to us and we will release you.’
The club was also active in trying to help him find something.
“It was just not meant to be.
But he is better now and has accepted the situation and is now performing…ready for the new season.
He struggled in early pre-season [for] a few days, especially the first week from the holidays. Now he is ready, and if we are playing tomorrow then Pule will play and he will perform,” Vilakazi concluded.
It still remains to be seen if Mmodi could eventually be part of Chiefs’ rebuilt squad
Although some rumours had suggested Mmodi had pushed for a transfer request, his agent Solomon Seobe always refuted this.
