Kaizer Chiefs Team Manager Bobby Motaung on Thursday revealed that contract renewal negotiations between the club and goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez had stalled, and that the Bafana Bafana first choice had opted not to renew his current contract with Chiefs, which terminates at the end of June this year. Instead Fernandez, who teamed up with The Amakhosi at the start of the 2001 – 2002 season, will be leaving Chiefs at the conclusion of the current season. The goalkeeper who has turned out in 137 games for Chiefs over the past six seasons, will be leaving Chiefs for current PSL defending champions and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

Fernandez according to his manager Ryan Hartslief will be joining Sundowns in a deal worth R 10 million over three years, Amakhosi team manager Bobby Motaung on Thursday expressed that the club will not hold any grudges against Rowen and will allow him to see through the remainder of his contract. Motaung when commenting on the matter to Kaizerchiefs.com on Thursday said “we informed the rest of the team on Thursday morning as to what Rowen’s intentions were. Players transferring away from teams is part of football, we urge the supporters to continue supporting the team and Rowen for the rest of his time at the club, which is until the end of the season. Like we have taken his wish to move on to greener pastures in good faith I urge the fans to do the same”.

Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung added that Chiefs will respect the players’ wish to move, as The Amakhosi chairman added “we could not match the kind of money being offered to Rowen by Sundowns. It would be financially inconceivable for us to invest this amount of money in any one player, the club does wish Rowen all the best but it must be said that we will find a replacement”.