Jaisen Clifford’s Journey From Chiefs Fan to Marumo Gallants’ New PSL Striker

For new Marumo Gallants striker Jaisen Clifford, the love affair with football began thanks to Kaizer Chiefs — a passion deeply influenced by his father’s unwavering support for Amakhosi. That family loyalty also played a role in Clifford’s decision not to sign for archrivals Orlando Pirates, despite reported interest from the Soweto giants.

At 29 years old, Clifford is about to make his Premier Soccer League (PSL) debut after years of honing his craft abroad. Having come through the SuperSport United development system, the striker has built a diverse career across several countries, including Malta, Lithuania, Portugal, Armenia, and Bulgaria.

“I left the SuperSport development and went to Malta. I earned a move to Lithuania, where we won the cup. From then, I had a stint in Portugal. I came back and eventually went to the Armenian Premier League. I had two seasons there and from there I went to Bulgaria. I am happy to be home,” Clifford shared.

The forward expressed his appreciation for Marumo Gallants’ swift interest and clear project vision that convinced him to join the club. “There was interest from a few teams. I think Gallants had the right project. Gallants acted the quickest and I appreciated that. I feel that I want to give back to their belief in me.”

Rumours had linked Clifford with a move to Orlando Pirates after his spell with Bulgarian side Etar Veliko Tarnovo. However, he revealed that the Pirates transfer talk wasn’t high on his priority list. “I don’t really know much. I saw it in the papers. I think there were other teams that were maybe closer than Pirates. I also feel like making this kind of decision you have to think about your career as a whole. It was never really on my agenda to go to Pirates. We will see how things go in the future.”

Clifford acknowledged Pirates’ current strength but didn’t see himself fitting into their setup just yet. “I think Pirates is doing well at the moment. I don’t really see myself in that team, but of course I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if they came knocking. But I feel like they are a stable team. You look at yourself as a player and say ‘how would I fit into this system?’ But at the same time, I feel we have a strong team at Gallants. We can challenge any team in this league.”

The striker also spoke candidly about how his father’s Chiefs fandom influenced his own career and the significance of that legacy in his life. “My father is a big Chiefs fan. As much as I would want to be happy, I would want him to be happy as well. He played a big role in my career. I think I’ve made the right decision.”

Clifford’s football journey was ignited after watching Chiefs in the MTN8 tournament, with the memorable Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium marking his first live match experience. That moment planted the seed for his footballing dreams.

Now, as he prepares to compete in the PSL for the first time, Clifford aims to repay the faith shown by Marumo Gallants while carrying the pride of his family’s Chiefs heritage with him on the pitch.