Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the exit of misfiring striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, ending months of speculation over his future.
Bimenyimana was signed by Kaizer Chiefs in August 2022 on a two-year deal with a further one-year option. However, the lanky forward has been shown the exit door due to his failure to score goals consistently.
The Soweto giants were reportedly looking for a buyer as Bimenyimana is not part of coach Molefi Ntseki’s plans.
And with no club showing interest in the services of the 25-year-old striker, Chiefs on Wednesday decided to release him. He was linked with a move with Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca, but the move failed.
Bimenyimana netted scored goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances for Amakhosi. He finished the 2022/23 season as the club’s top scorer, though five of those goals were from penalties.
With Bimenyimana deemed surplus to requirements, Ntseki will turn to new signing Ranga Chivaviro, Ashley Du Preez and Christian Saile for goals in the 2023/24 as Chiefs look to win their first trophy in eight years.
KAIZER CHIEFS’ STATEMENT ON CALEB
“Kaizer Chiefs have come to an agreement with striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana to part ways after one season,” reads the club.
“Bimenyimana arrived at Amakhosi as a free agent when he signed in August 2022. Before that, he was with Kaysar FC in Kazakhstan and left them in July 2022.
“The attacker became the second player from Burundi to feature for Kaizer Chiefs when he made his debut for the Glamour Boys in a 0-0 draw at home against AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership on 3 September 2022.
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“His first goals for Kaizer Chiefs came in a 2-1 come-from-behind home win against SuperSport United. That brace came as part of a run in which he scored six goals in three league games.
“He entered the history books of Amakhosi when he scored a hattrick of penalties in a 3-1 win over Stellenbosch in a league game on the 9 October 2022, becoming the first Chiefs player in the PSL era to score three goals from the penalty spot in a league game.
“He will be free to join a team of his choice, and we wish him well in his future.”