SA-born Star Signs For England League One Side On Loan
Exeter City yesterday announced the signing of midfielder Kgaugelo Chauke on loan from Premier League side Southampton until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old has been with the Grecians in pre-season as part of a training programme from his parent club, scoring the third goal in a friendly against Truro under the guise of ‘Trialist’ and has impressed Matt Taylor enough to earn a deal until the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.
Chauke – who’s known as Kegs in England – was born in Pretoria, South Africa and moved to the UK at a young age. His youth career started with Thatcham Town until 2017, when he was picked up by Southampton.
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He made his professional debut for the Saints in an FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town in January 2021, and made eight appearances in the Papa John’s Trophy with their U21 side over three seasons.
In 2020 he was part of South Africa’s provisional squad for the Tokyo Olympics. “He impressed us,” Matt Taylor said. “Over the last few weeks it’s been a chance for us to look at Kegs and Kegs to look at us, and provide some valuable feedback to Southampton about him.
“Within this time he showed us what he can do and we are really grateful to Southampton for the circumstances in which they’ve allowed the deal to go through. We want to develop his game and get him hardened and game ready in terms of seniority, and we’ve seen enough from his playing side and his character to believe he will have an impact this season.”
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Ex-SA Youth Player Loaned Out By Leicester City
Crewe Alexandra yesterday announced that Khanya Leshabela has joined them on a six-month loan from Leicester City. According to the club, he will go straight into the reckoning to feature in Saturday’s 2022-23 opener at Rochdale.
The 22-year-old South African who has become Crewe’s seventh signing of the summer, was born near Pretoria but moved to Northampton with his family at the age of two. He signed for the Foxes in 2013 and made his Premier League debut last year as a late substitute in a 5-0 win over Sheffield United.
The former South African U20 international spent January on loan at Shrewsbury Town in League One. Now Khanya, who describes himself as a ‘box-to-box’ midfielder, will be wearing the red of The Railwaymen.
