Cape Town - Chippa United head coach Clinton Larsen has revealed that right-back Zitha Macheke will be exiting the club when his contract runs out at the end of the month.
Larsen was cryptic in his comments, saying that he 'thinks' Macheke has agreed terms with another club and that's why he would not sign a new contract at the club.
"I think Zitha is leaving the club," Larsen tells KickOff. "His contract... he was in talks with the club, his contract had come to an end, I think he signed a pre-contract elsewhere."
Larsen says contract talks between the player and the club hit a brick wall just before the 2019 January transfer window opened.
"Ja that was a long time ago, it's more than six months ago so that's always a sign that a player has signed elsewhere," he adds.
The former Bloemfontein Celtic and Golden Arrows coach says they have already found a natural replacement for Macheke in the form of Makobela.
"Yeah well in the last four games, five games, Tebogo Makobela played and he's done very, very well you know in the right-back position. So I don't think we are going to be short-changed in that position," Larsen explains.
"Yes, Zitha is a good player and he's done well for the club but this is part of football, it gives another player an opportunity and at the end of the season Makobela grabbed that chance with both hands."