Kaizer Chiefs’ eight signings announced so far ahead of the coming season have surpassed the string of embarrassing duds paraded by football manager Bobby Motaung in June last year who failed so miserably in a poor 2015-16 campaign. When Stuart Baxter left Amakhosi at the end of winning a second league and cup double in 2014-15 it was apparent to the outgoing coach‚ media and public that the squad that had brought such success to Chiefs needed a flamethrower taken to it.The 2010 World Cup squad member backbone of the team of Siphiwe Tshabalala‚ Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Itumeleng Khune were ageing‚ and the latter becoming increasingly injury-prone.Morgan Gould had begun to resemble a zombie from Dawn of the Dead‚ such had his state of walking-wounded-ness become an issue.Bobby Motaung throws unexpected lifeline to transfer-listed Kaizer Chiefs trioKaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has cracked open the door for the possible return of three high-profile players who are on the glamour club’s transfer list. Tsepo Masilela had a vintage 2014-15 at left-back‚ the former Getafe player showing all his class as a left-back with La Liga pedigree‚ and was voted by his teammates the club’s Player’s Player of the Season‚ but had always been injury prone and the question marks on his longevity were huge.On top of that‚ Mandla Masango and PSL Player of the Season Tefu Mashamaite – the pillar of Baxter’s back four since Gould’s decline – were allowed to move on.Under these circumstances‚ Chiefs served up Russian club Rostov’s reject centreback Siyanda Xulu‚ AmaZulu’s notoriously goal-shy striker Bongani Ndulula‚ Free State Stars’ six-goal striker Camaldine Abraw and honest but unspectacular defenders Keagan Ritchie and Daniel Cardoso as their headline signings.WATCH: Newly signed Chiefs player Mphahlele describes Sundowns as 'SA's best'New Kaizer Chiefs signing Ramahlwe Mphahlele says he was willing to take a pay cut to stay at former club Mamelodi Sundowns but in the end chose to leave when the Chloorkop side wouldn’t commit to a new contract. For incoming coach Steve Komphela‚ finally being granted a chance at a big club – one where he served as a defender in the 1990s – seemed a double-edged sword.That Ndulula‚ Ritchie‚ and later signings Edward Manqele and Sula Matovu have been released within a year – the three strikers among those having scored one goal between them – speaks volumes and asks big questions of Amakhosi’s signing policy for 2015-16.Fast-forward a year and a fifth-placed finish in a trophyless season where Chiefs lost in two cup finals has clearly stung Amakhosi into action.They have announced eight signings who compare to the last decent spending spree on quality by the club at the start of Baxter’s three-year reign ahead of the 2012-13 season.Among that batch‚ Mulomowandau Mathoho‚ Siyabonga Nkosi‚ Siboniso Gaxa‚ Gould‚ Kingston Nkhatha and Brilliant Khuzwayo would all go on to play varying roles – some key‚ others smaller but also crucial – in the four trophies (including two league titles) that followed.Kaizer Chiefs fire warning to PSL rivals after signing eight new playersKaizer Chiefs signalled their intentions for the coming Premier Soccer League (PSL) season when the club announced the signing of eight new players on Monday. Ahead of this season‚ Amakhosi acknowledged a year too late the need for a clearout‚ releasing a list of 20 names put on transfer‚ released from contracts or those who would not have their contracts renewed.Some of the old guard – notably Letshonlonyane and Siboniso Gaxa – have been allowed to move on. They could still have contributed in terms of their experience and leadership‚ but when drastic measures are required sometimes sacrifices of old heads need to be made in exchange for energetic legs.Chiefs have made a shrewd swap deal of Ritchie – a clever left-back – for SuperSport United’s Sibusiso Khumalo‚ a dynamo of energy and physical presence on the flank who can certainly bring class and attacking momentum from the back for Amakhosi as Masilela continues to fade.By out-bidding Mamelodi Sundowns with a superior salary package for 26-year-old Ramahlwe Mphahele Chiefs have secured a replacement for Gaxa at right-back for at least the next four seasons.Here are the full profiles of the 8 new Kaizer Chiefs signingsTimes Media Digital brings you the lowdown on Kaizer Chiefs’ new signings announced on Monday. The ex-Under-23 captain skippered the Brazilians’ superstars admirably to a league and Telkom Knockout double last season‚ and is entering his peak as a more-than sturdy attacking and defensive full-back.Cardoso appears earmarked to emulate Downs’ Wayne Arendse and step up to the plate next to Mathoho to solve Amakhosi’s central defensive issues.Enocent Mkhabela has been under-utilised in central midfield at SuperSport and is a good utility player who can also play in central defence.Keagan Buchanan has the skills‚ should he remain injury free‚ to add more class and creativity to Amakhosi’s forward line as a playmaker‚ and at 25 can bring necessary energy and hunger.Mitchell Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare showed their potential when Chicken Inn gave Sundowns such a tough workout in a 2-1 Caf Champions League aggregate defeat to the Zimbabweans in February.If there is an area lacking in Chiefs’ signings – and Motaung has said there are a few more to come – it is in a reliable goal-scorer up-front.Changing the guard: New dawn for AmakhosiRamahlwe Mphahlele will headline the list of new signings Kaizer Chiefs will parade at a press conference at the club's Naturena Village headquarters on Monday. With an unstable central defence this was their other Achilles heel in their 2015-16 campaign ‚ and a proven‚ big centre-forward such as Free State Stars’ 2014-15 PSL top scorer Moeketsi Sekola would surely signal Amakhosi’s intent.They perhaps have also not quite matched the ambition shown by archrivals Orlando Pirates by bringing in a player of genuine headline quality such as Bucs’ defensive signing from Ajax Cape Town‚ Abbubaker Mobara.But Komphela has established a reputation in his career with Free State Stars‚ Maritzburg United and Platinum Stars of enjoying working without big-name stars‚ with team ethic his prevailing ethos.And the signings Chiefs have made for the former SA U-23 and Bafana coach have finally given Komphela something he can work with. Now the onus‚ and of course the pressure‚ are on Komphela to deliver.Chiefs’ signings announced ahead of 2016-17 (so far): Sibusiso Khumalo Enocent Mkhabela Edmore Chirambadare Mitchell Katsvairo Lewis Macha Emmanuel Letlototlo Keagan Buchanan Ramahlwe MphahleleChiefs’ signings announced ahead of 2015-16: Bongani Ndulula Camaldine Abraw Siyanda Xulu Keagan Ritchie Daniel Cardoso Lucky Baloyi (back from loan) Sbongiseni Ngcobo Andisile Ntsila Later: Edward Manqele‚ Sula MatovuChiefs’ signings announced ahead of 2012-13: Mulomowandau Mathoho Siyabonga Nkosi Siboniso Gaxa Kgotso Moleko Sakhile Hlongwa Morgan Gould Kingston Nkhatha Brilliant Khuzwayo. - TMG Digital..