With rumors recently linking 29 year old Anthony Akumu away from Amakhosi, Kaizer Chiefs have now officially announced the departure of the player on mutual consent.
“After initially putting him on the transfer list, Kaizer Chiefs and Anthony Akumu Agay have mutually agreed to an early termination of his contract,” Amakhosi confirmed on their official website. The contract was set to expire in June 2023. The Kenyan-born midfielder joined Chiefs in January 2020 from Zesco United in Zambia and netted twice in his 47 appearances in all competitions for Amakhosi. We wish ‘Teddy’ all the best in his future.”
Akumu back in July 2021 had actually expressed his intentions of staying with the club much longer. “I’d really like to be here in the new season and beyond. I want to finish my contract here. But if the club decides otherwise, I will just accept it and look back to say I am grateful that I was part of this wonderful club,’’ said Akumu while responding to the Sowetan Live.
“This is one of the biggest teams in Africa and to be part of it is amazing… it’s one thing that is a privilege, but you and I understand how football works. So, in case of the decision to let me go, I won’t take it badly at all,’’added Akumu
Although Anthony Akumu is an established deep-lying midfielder, he was actually converted into a centre-back at most times by the then head coach Gavin Hunt, who was sacked and his place taken up by the returning Stuart Baxter. The multiple Super League winner with Zesco United stressed that he was not concerned by the change of position as his desire is always to serve under the coach’s instructions.
“I am a midfielder, a central midfielder, but I can also play as a central defender, I played there before I came to Chiefs. When a coach puts you in a different position to the one you’re used to, it means he’s seen something in you,’’ added the former Chiefs defender.
People Daily