Kaizer Chiefs Coach Stuart Baxter Admits That Mamelodi Sundowns' Buying Power Disturbed Their Transfer Plans

• Kaizer Chiefs mentor Stuart Baxter resigned himself to the fact that Mamelodi Sundowns are the only big dog on South African football's transfer market
• Baxter was speaking in the wake of the Amakhosi's failures in bring in players during the January transfer window
• This includes unsuccessfully trying to land big fishes in SuperSport United's Teboho Mokoena and Siyethemba Sithebe

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter hinted tellingly that Mamelodi Sundowns disrupted their transfer dealings during the January window.

The club came under heavy criticism for a disappointing showing on the transfer market, bringing in no players. Chiefs instead was forced to renew the contracts of seven players.

Speaking to TimesLive, Baxter said in a barely veiled acknowledgement of Sundowns' spending power:

"I can assure them there's a lot more that goes on in terms of targeting people, getting knocked back, realising that in the open market there's one club that holds all the trump cards. If we're interested in a player who they're interested in, pretty much the chance is he's going to go there."

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"We've got to be smart in our recruitment. I think we've tried to do that. I think probably with what's been available to us we've worked out that at this moment in time it won't fill that gap between us and Sundowns."

Baxter's annoyance comes in the wake of the highly rated former SuperSport player Teboho Mokoena being snatched from the Amakhosi's clutches by Masandawana last month, as reported on Goal.com. Chiefs also had to endure the embarrassment of missing out on Amazulu's Siyethemba Sithebe, having agreed with him in principle to join the Naturena-based sided, as per BusinessLIVE.

Did Teboho Mokoena make a mistake by joining Mamelodi Sundowns? Fans divided on whether he’s taken a step back

Having snubbed Kaizer Chiefs for Mamelodi Sundowns where playing time is limited, Teboho Mokoena's move has been question by fans.

As reported on Sports Brief, Mokoena signed from Supersport United despite receiving interest from other clubs both locally and internationally.

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One fan of his even said:

"Wasted career for Teboho Mokoena. I'm so disappointed with him. Wise men choose life more than money."