Chiefs PRO Putco Mafani said the club thought the cup of date for registration of new players was August 10 only to be told in was in fact August 1. Mafani said Safa knew well in advance about the new deadline but failed to inform the club.

"We only have 14 registered players for this competition," said Mafani. "Now what can you do with 14 players? We want to compete in honour especially since this competition is in honour of our former president Nelson Mandela."

Mafani said the club needed to register four key players for the competition but were told the deadline has already passed. "The majority of the players we registered last season have left the club," he said.

Top striker Siyabonga Nomvete is one of the players who left the club in off-season for a move to Italian side Udinese. Others who have left the club are strikers Tony Illodigwe, Robson Muchichwa and Fees Moloyi who are now with Pietersburg side Ria Stars.

Thato Mokoena and Themba Seli have also left the club and are now with newly promoted Durban side AmaZulu.

However, Amakhosi have acquired some skilful players to replace those who have been off-loaded and such players should make the African safari a lot easier for the Naturena side.

Josias Macamo joined Chiefs from Mozambican side Costa do Sol and he has regularly found the back of the net.

Macamo has scored two vital goals in three days. He scored the only goal in Amakhosi’s 1-0 league triumph against Wits University on Wednesday and then scored the opening goal in the 2-0 BP Top Eight quarterfinal win against Ria Stars on Saturday.

Other players who could play a crucial role in Amakhosi’s campaign are midfielder Stanton Fredericks and goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez, both signed from Wits University.

"If we do not receive a positive response from Safa by Monday we will consider pulling out of this competition," said Mafani.

Chiefs are scheduled to play against Egyptian side El Ismailia in the quarterfinals on September 8 in Johannesburg. The return leg will be in Cairo on September 22.