Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Glody Lilepo has opened up about his difficult experience at Amakhosi, claiming that issues surrounding his family’s visas and his salary contributed to his decision to leave the club.
The Democratic Republic of Congo international spent around 18 months with the Soweto giants before completing a move to Libya last month.
While Lilepo says he enjoyed playing for Chiefs, he revealed that being separated from his wife and daughter for an extended period made his time in South Africa increasingly difficult.
Lilepo: ‘I spent a long time in South Africa without them’
According to Lilepo, he wanted his family to join him in South Africa, but claims the necessary assistance with visas and permits was not provided by the club.
“My wife and my daughter couldn’t be with me in South Africa full time, because the club didn’t help me with their visas and permits,” Lilepo told Soccer Laduma.
The forward said the situation left him spending much of his time away from his family.
“I spent a long time in South Africa without them. I would go to training every day and then go home. I was alone,” he explained.
For a professional footballer playing thousands of kilometres from home, that separation can be particularly challenging. Lilepo suggested that although he had affection for the club, his family circumstances eventually became an important factor in his future.
“I loved Chiefs and I wanted to stay, but when you have your family far away and there are problems with their visas and permits, it becomes difficult,” he said.
Lilepo also wanted a salary increase
Family concerns were not the only issue Lilepo raised.
The former Chiefs winger also revealed that he had asked for an increase in his salary, believing his performances and growing importance to the team justified improved terms.
“The only thing I put on the table was that I wanted an increase in my salary,” Lilepo said.
He explained that he felt he had earned the right to negotiate better terms after becoming an important member of the squad.
Lilepo said he discussed the matter with sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr but ultimately did not get the outcome he wanted.
“I believed that I deserved it because I had become one of the important players in the team,” he said.
Importantly, Lilepo stressed that his motivation was not simply about chasing money.
“For me, the important thing was not simply to leave Chiefs for money. I wanted to play,” he said.
A productive spell at Naturena
Despite the difficulties he says he experienced, Lilepo’s time at Kaizer Chiefs was not without success.
The Congolese attacker became a regular attacking option and scored close to 20 goals during his spell with the club.
He was also part of the Chiefs squad that lifted the Nedbank Cup in 2025, giving him a major trophy during his time in South Africa.
His departure therefore leaves a complicated picture: Lilepo clearly valued his time at one of Africa’s biggest clubs, but says personal and contractual concerns ultimately influenced his decision to move on.
Was Lilepo mistreated by Kaizer Chiefs?
Lilepo’s comments are likely to generate debate among Amakhosi supporters.
Was the club’s failure to resolve his family’s visa and permit situation a major factor in his departure? And did Chiefs underestimate the value of a player who believed he had established himself as an important member of the squad?
Those questions cannot be answered solely from Lilepo’s account, and the club’s perspective would provide important additional context.
What is clear, however, is that the player’s exit was about more than football.
Lilepo wanted his family beside him, believed he had earned improved financial terms and wanted regular opportunities to play.
With the forward now beginning a new chapter in Libya, his revelations provide a fascinating insight into some of the challenges that can influence a player’s decision to leave a club.
Do you think Kaizer Chiefs could have done more to keep Glody Lilepo?
