Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez informed Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung on Sunday evening after The Amakhosi’s final game of the 2006-2007 season, that he would not be renewing his current contract with the club when it runs out at the end of June.

Instead Fernandez will be teaming up with former Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp at German Bundesliga Club Arminia Bielefeld, who Middendorp joined after being let go from his coaching duties at The Amakhosi in late February.

Fernandez had been in protracted negotiations with the club since the start of the year, and a decision was taken by Chiefs at the start of April to halt negotiations with the player in order for him to concentrate on playing out the rest of the season with out any distractions.

Commenting on Monday afternoon on Fernandez departure for the Bundesliga Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung said; “it most definitely is a sad moment for us to lose a player of Rowen's calibre, some how we knew it was coming hence negotiations to renew his contract had stalled. However we do take the opportunity to wish him all the best as he moves on in his career to Germany, as a club we proud to have played a part in enhancing his career which has resulted for him in a move to one of the major leagues in the world”.

Rowen broke the news of his departure for Germany to Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung, who on Monday said that he was happy for Rowen and wished him the best of luck on his move. Motaung said “Rowen is moving on to greener pastures in terms of his career and we are happy for him, and wish him all the best. We all know that Rowen is a hard working player and that will stand him in good stead abroad, he has provided us with many special moments over the past few seasons and we thank him for that”.

KC.com caught up with Fernandez at lunch time on Monday and the Bafana number one was complimentary of the assistance given to him by Chiefs, “when I signed for Chiefs in 2001 I was a relatively unknown player and the club took the risk and brought me to Naturena. I would like to thank Kaizer Motaung, Bobby as well as Rainer Dinkelacker and every one else at the club for all that they have done for me over the past six years, if I had not come to Chiefs in 2001 I seriously doubt that I would have achieved and won the trophies that I have”.

Rowen will depart for Germany at the end of June where he will meet up with his new team mates before kicking off his three year tenure with Bielefeld, he will spend a few days in Germany before travelling with the rest of his team mates to Austria where they will begin their pre-season preparations.