Time running out for these five players at Kaizer Chiefs?

Having brought in a handful of new players and only released a couple, Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter currently enjoys good cover in all positions.

Whether there is enough quality is another question. From the players’ perspective though, more competition can also mean less game-time, and there are a number of players who have found themselves on the periphery.

At some point – either in the January transfer window or at the end of the season, these fringe players themselves may decide they need a new environment, or the club may decide to sell or in some cases, loan them out. GOAL highlights five Amakhosi stars who could do with more match minutes in the months ahead.

Such an exciting player when at his best, but the former Bloemfontein Celtic winger has had disciplinary issues. He’s also had injury problems throughout his time at Naturena and has been sidelined more than he’s played. Zuma has not played a single minute this season.

The Zambian has failed to impress in his three seasons at Chiefs and is about number six in terms of the striker's pecking order. He’s managed only two goals in his entire time at the club and has played only two league games this season for a total of just four minutes (off the bench).

Amakhosi made two significant signings in central defence (Njabulo Ngcobo and Thabani Dube), with Reeve Frosler and Njabulo Blom covering the right-back role, it will be difficult for the versatile Mphahlele to break back into the team, especially with coach Stuart Baxter still happy to trust Erick Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso in the heart of defence. Rama has not made a single appearance this term and has four times been on the bench but not played.

Will this be the season when one of South Africa’s greatest ever goalkeepers retires? The club legend and captain has fallen down the pecking order, with Daniel Akpeyi, Bruce Bvuma and seemingly even Brandon Petersen above him, and Khune hardly even makes the bench these days. One can see him moving into the club’s technical team in years to come. The 34-year-old has played one cup match in the MTN8 and has not featured in the league at all.

There is a lot of competition in central midfield, especially considering that Nkosingiphile Ngcobo can barely get a game, and that another player who did great last season in the middle of the park, Njabulo Blom, is now playing right back. Baccus does well enough when called on, but the 30-year-old has only tasted 19 league minutes this season.