Lehlogonolo Matlou’s Chiefs Future in Doubt as Injury-Plagued Spell Nears End

Lehlogonolo Matlou’s future at Kaizer Chiefs hangs in the balance as he reaches the final weeks of his three-year contract without clarity on whether the club will offer him a renewal. The midfielder, who arrived from Moroka Swallows in 2022 with high expectations, has seen his progress stunted by persistent injuries and inconsistent game time — a reality that has cast doubt over his long-term value to the Soweto giants.

Chiefs have yet to commit to a contract extension, and Matlou now finds himself on a waiting list that could define whether his career at Naturena continues or comes to an abrupt end.

In his debut campaign under then-coach Arthur Zwane, Matlou featured in 15 matches, most of them as a substitute. Despite the appearances, he only clocked 382 minutes of game time and missed 22 games entirely.

The following season, split between Molefi Ntseki and Cavin Johnson at the helm, saw a modest increase in involvement. Matlou played 10 games and logged 489 minutes, though injuries sidelined him for 25 matches, further limiting his momentum.

In the most recent 2024/25 season, Matlou once again appeared in 15 matches but was absent for 20 others. His total minutes on the pitch dropped slightly to 448, and he failed to register a goal contribution throughout the campaign.

Across all three seasons at Chiefs, the numbers paint a troubling picture: 40 matches played versus 67 missed, no goals, and just three assists. Of the possible 3660 minutes available in matches he featured in, Matlou was on the pitch for only 1319 — just 36% of those minutes. Factoring in the 6090 minutes from the 67 games he missed entirely, his total contribution comes down to a 37% involvement rate over 107 matches.

Injury woes have clearly defined his time in the black and gold, transforming what was once a promising addition into a calculated risk for the club.

While Matlou’s technical ability and energy in midfield are acknowledged, the inconsistencies in availability have raised concerns within the Chiefs’ technical setup. The club has already been offered over 100 players as they prepare for a critical rebuilding phase, and every retained spot counts.

The question now facing Kaizer Chiefs is whether they take a gamble on the 26-year-old and invest further, or choose to cut their losses and free up space for a more consistently available asset.

As of now, Amakhosi have not indicated any movement toward renewing Matlou’s deal — a silence that could very well speak volumes.