Hope FC Target Kaizer Chiefs Striker Hlongwane

Newly promoted Hope FC want Kaizer Chiefs striker Naledi Hlongwane on loan, and the decision now sits with Amakhosi. The Cape Town-based Motsepe Foundation Championship side have already submitted a formal loan request to Chiefs for the 20-year-old, signalling real intent as they prepare for their debut season in the MFC.

Hope FC earned promotion from the ABC Motsepe League and kicked off pre-season on Monday, 13 July. The Immortals have moved quickly in the transfer market, already securing Nande Wetbooi, Selwyn Stevens, Brandon Theron, Tauric Gamildien, and Tyler Cicero — a group made up mostly of young players carrying some senior experience. Hlongwane would be the most prominent addition to that list.

The logic for both parties is clear. At Chiefs, Hlongwane faces a serious queue. Khanyisa Mayo, Godspower Ighodaro, Flavio Da Silva, and Luke Baartman are all ahead of him in the striker pecking order at a PSL club currently sitting third on 54 points. A loan move to Hope FC would hand Hlongwane regular minutes at a level where he can develop without the pressure of competing against established names week in, week out.

Ashley Du Preez is also rumoured to be leaving Naturena, which adds further context to how Chiefs manage their attacking options this window. The ball is firmly in Kaizer Chiefs' court on whether Hlongwane heads to the Cape for the season.

First reported by iDiski Times.