Baxter Sacked By
“Bonkers” Owner
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has been sacked in
Turkey after just two games in charge. The Englishman left Amakhosi
in June after a hugely successful spell in charge which culminated in the club
winning the ABSA Premiership and MTN8 titles last season. He joined Turkish club Genclerbirligi and
enjoyed a successful pre-season, but after two losses in the opening two fixtures,
he has been let go. Muhsin Ertugral said July that Baxter would face a tough
task at a club who fires, on average, two coaches per season. Baxter has given
some insight into his sacking in Turkey – and his stories make Chippa Mpengesi
seem like the most stable club owner in history. Fired by Genclerbirligi’s
80-year-old owner Ilhan Cavcav after two narrow defeats, Baxter does not rule
out a rapid return to the PSL. “But first, a bit of a break,” he said. “I’ll be
going back to Sweden to be with the family; I’ll watch a bit of Rugby World Cup
and I’ll definitely be visiting South Africa to catch up with friends. There
have already been a few enquiries, but I’ve told my technical lads that we
should take it easy for three weeks, unless something really big comes up. We’ve
had a busy two months. The club sold their best five players, so pre-season was
all about getting younger players and inexperienced signings to fit in. We
worked hard and we had an excellent pre-season.” Genclir won all their
pre-season matches, including a 5-0 drubbing of Dutch side Twente. “I think the
owner thought we were going to win the league after that,” Baxter chuckles
ruefully. “But two narrow defeats and I’m out.” Genclir are a mid-table club
that has won the Turkish League twice – in the 1940s. Baxter’s team lost their
opening league match, at home to Rizesport 3-2, despite leading 2-1 with a
minute to go. We conceded an 89th minute penalty. It was a bad decision and the
players were angry. They were flustered and started to panic … and we let in
another goal,” Baxter said. “We were unlucky but these things happen,
especially when a side is new together. Second game, we’re leading [against
Antalyaspor] with 15 minutes to go, but the ref misses a bad tackle and we
concede. We end up losing 3-1.” Antalya, after equalising in the 76th
minute, secured the points with late goals by two Cameroonians, M’Billa Etame
in the 88th minute, and Samuel Eto’o in the 90th. That’s when the trouble
started for Baxter and his technical team, his son Lee and Josh Smith, the
fitness coach he brought with him from Chiefs. “The chairman calls me in and
rants at me, even going on about my family. Then he stops ranting and simply
says; ‘Okay, you can pack your things and go.’ I’ve never met anything like
him. He couldn’t even remember my name,” Baxter says. “He’s bonkers … off the
wall. He had me in meetings every day. Injured players, he’d force them to
attend four sessions a day with a personal trainer. The club’s general manager
comes to me and says ‘What now?’ I say; ‘you tell me, do I have a job or not?’
He replies; ‘I don’t know’. I tell you, anything I experienced in South Africa
is nothing like this … that was like Sunday school in comparison.”
National Under-23
coach Owen da Gama has named a strong 23-man squad for two friendlies against
Tunisia early next month. The team recently qualified for the 8 Nations
tournament in Senegal, which will run from 12 November to 12 December and where
the three top teams qualifying straight to the Olympics in Rio, Brazil. The
draw for the tournament will take place on 14 September in the Egyptian capital
of Cairo.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ngqobe (Black Aces), Goss (Golden Arrows),
February (Ajax CT)
Defenders: Rhikotso (Bloem Celtic), Mngonyama (Sundowns),
Makhele (Witbank Spurs), Radebe (Eupen, Belgium), Moerane (Wits), Macheke
(Chippa United), Farmer (SuperSport), Dube (Arrows)
Midfielders: Mobara (Ajax CT), Shozi (Sundowns), Motupa
(Orlando Pirates), Nel (SuperSport), Dolly (Sundowns), Norodien (Ajax CT),
Mekoa (Maritzburg), Phiri (Brondby, Denmark)
Strikers: Masuku (Orlando Pirates), Ntshangase (Black
Leopards), Zuma (Bloem Celtic), Mothiba (Lille, France).
Khethokwakhe Masuku has joined National First Division side
Royal Eagles.The midfielder parted ways with Orlando Pirates a
couple of months ago, but his search for a new club is now over putting pen to
paper on a one-year contract.
Former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela also looks likely
to play for Royal Eagles this season. ‘Killer’ is understood to have
signed a one-year deal with the Durban side after parting ways with Kaizer
Chiefs at the end of last season. “He was seen with his agent today at the
club and he has signed,” a source said.
Polokwane City have
completed the signing of Senegalese striker Baptiste Faye after he impressed
during a trial period. The club is
now just waiting for the issuing of his work permit before he can be registered
with the PSL and become eligible for selection. Faye had been training with
Rise and Shine since last month and has now put pen to paper on a two-year
deal. The 29-year-old, who was heavily linked with a move to Bloemfontein
Celtic two years ago, has previously played in Portugal, Romania and Angola. Meanwhile,
Malawian striker Esau Kanyenda and new Zimbabwean keeper George Chigova are
also still waiting for their work permits.
Coach Steve Barker
said it was crucial AmaZulu started their NFD campaign on a positive front as
the club targets a swift return to the PSL. The Durban-based outfit beat
Witbank Spurs 1-0 at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday, with Barker notably
handing debuts to Mbongeni Gumede, Linda Bhengu and Ayabulela Konqobe. “This
was an important victory for us as we had to start strong,” Barker told
Usuthu’s website. “This gave us an indication of what this league is about and
more especially the importance of capitalising with goals.” Barker added: “It
was good seeing our debutants like Gumede, Bhengu and Konqobe amongst many
grabbing the opportunity with both hands and moulding well with the rest of the
team. I feel we can still improve and score more, but I am impressed with what
I saw. I must also thank our supporters for being there for us. It is always
good to bring joy to them as they add as a 12th man in our matches. We want to
reward them by putting big performances every week.”
Burkina Faso striker
Aristide Bance still wants to play in the Premier Soccer League this season. The
30-year-old recently left South Africa after failing a trial at Bidvest Wits. Bance
previously signed a contract with Chippa United but he says the deal became
invalid at the start of the month. “Yes, it’s true, I signed documents
with Chippa United on condition that they make certain payment before the 31st
of July,” Bance said. “We made an agreement which is written down on
the document that if the payment is not made by July 31 the contract is
invalid. There was no payment. My job is
football, I have to move and try something else.” Bance, however, is keen
to return to South Africa. “I fell in love with the country when we played
the Afcon,” he says. “It’s a beautiful country with great football
supporters. This is one of the biggest leagues in Africa. I am ready to listen
to any offers and return back to South Africa.”
SuperSport United
have appointed former Bafana Bafana midfielder Macbeth Sibaya as the new head
coach of their Multichoice Diski Challenge side. The 37-year-old, who last
played for Moroka Swallows, will join Matsatsantsa with immediate effect and
begin the process of building the next generation of players for the team. He
previously spent seven successful years plying his trade in Russian with Rubin
Kazan and also represented South Africa at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Sibaya’s
appointment follows Kaitano Tembo’s promotion to work with the first team as an
assistant to Gordon Igesund. The first team coaching staff will work with the
MDC side to ensure a smooth transition to the senior team.
Defender Tsepo Masilela was named in Bafana Bafana’s 25-man
squad to take on hosts Mauritania in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
on September 5, in Nouakchott. Masilela returns to the national
setup after a two-year absence for the injured Orlando Pirates duo of Patrick
Phungwayo and Thabo Matlaba. Top contenders for a national callup missing from
the squad were Kamohelo Mokotjo, Oupa Manyisa, Kermit Erasmus and Thabo
Rakhale. Mashaba said he would not underestimate the much lower-ranked
Mauritania in their clash. South Africa’s opposition are ranked 113th in the
world, and Bafana at number 72 should have the firepower to brush aside the
nation, but the coach was far less confident. “Rankings don’t mean much on the
field of play,” said Mashaba. “Mauritania held Cameroon for the better part of
their match in June, away in Cameroon so it clearly shows we need to be at our
best to come back victorious.” Bafana drew 0-0 with Gambia in the opening match
of the qualifiers at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in June. “Even though this
match comes after a well-deserved rest, not just for the players but also for
the technical team, due to the spacing in between, it has also killed the
momentum of the team. But I have complete confidence in the players that we
have selected and I believe they will deliver,” said Mashaba. The Bafana mentor
said he was confident of getting a good result in the West African country.
Bafana Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabogkwane (Mpumalanga Aces FC),
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (Supersport United)
Defenders: Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee
(Ajax Cape Town), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits), Siyabonga Nhlapo (Bidvest
Wits), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk), Mzikayise Mashaba (Mamelodi Sundowns),
Siyabonga Zulu (Platinum Stars), Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Dean Furman (Supersport United), Andile Jali
(KV Oostende), Bongani Zungu (Sundowns), Mandla Masango (Randers FC), Phumlani
Ntshangase (Bidvest Wits), Jabulani Shongwe (Bidvest Wits), Themba Zwane
(Mamelodi Sundowns), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates), Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren),
Daylon Claasen (1860 Munich)
Strikers: Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam), Thamsanqa Gabuza
(Orlando Pirates), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits), Tokelo Rantie (Bounermouth).
Mamelodi Sundowns
coach Pitso Mosimane says defender Kwanda Mngonyama will be allowed to leave
the club as he feels he is not ready to play regularly for a big team like the
Brazilians. Mngonyama has done well for Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United
where he spent the last two seasons on loan. Maritzburg are keen to sign
Mngonyama but Sundowns are believed to want R5 million for the 21-year-old
despite his not being in Mosimane’s plans. “We will speak to Kwanda. He also
has to be sensible and understand that if he stays at Sundowns he is not going
to start,” Mosimane says. “He has to work for it. He is not ready to be honest.
He is a good football player, top potential. You can write anything about him
but he is not ready. You put him there at Sundowns you can’t make a mistake at
centre-back. In other teams he is doing well. When he was playing at Wits he
was very good because they were playing with three centre-backs most of the
time, not all the time. So you can hide
a little bit. He is young and the objectives of Sundowns are totally different
from where he was loaned out last year. There he will get a lot of game-time.” Mosimane also downplayed suggestions
Mngonyama could fill the void left by Alje Schut’s departure, saying Thabo
Nthethe is a better fit. “Where is he going to play in the position of Alje
Schut? Thabo Nthethe has got experience and he is stable. So you bring him
here, sometimes he gets demotivated and all that.” Mosimane also revealed that
the club will allow Luyolo Nomandela to leave should he want to. “Luyo is
struggling to get in to the team and we are not going to keep him. If he wants
to go and play football he is allowed to go. Sundowns jersey is a very heavy
one. Players we identify them, they are very good wherever they are. Come here
you need to take Teko Modise and Khama Billiat out, it’s tough.”
Bafana Bafana are set
to test their progress in two international friendlies against Costa Rica and
Honduras in October. According to the Official FIFA website’s fixture list,
Bafana Bafana will face the Central American sides on 8 and 13 October
respectively, with venues yet to be confirmed. SAFA Head of Events Russell Paul
has confirmed the two international friendlies during the international week in
October while refusing to reveal the names of the opponents, however, he did
concede that contracts were still being ironed out. “There are two matches in
October as well. We will advise you on that in the next week or two. They have
been finalised, we are just [left with] contracting,” Paul confirms. If the FIFA
website is anything to go by, Bafana are likely to play their two international
friendlies in October away from home. SAFA Media Officer Matlhomola Morake has
also confirmed that the Nelson Mandela Challenge will be taking place later in
September, with the opponents, dates and times still to be confirmed.
Anele Ngcongca moved
closer to an exit from Belgian side Genk after being left out of the match day
squad for their trip to St Truiden. Ngcongca, who has raised the interest
of Russian Premier League side Krylya Sovetov Samara, has played just four
minutes of football so far this season after a series of ‘incidents’ at the
club in recent months. These include missing a portion of pre-season training
without the club’s permission, which clearly raised the ire of coach Peter
Maes. The last straw for the coach came in their previous game against Westerlo
when Maes asked Ngcongca to warm-up to come on, but said the player was so
“sullen” that he chose somebody else to enter the game. “Under the current
circumstances, I cannot count on him anymore,” Maes told the Belgian
media. “He will not be in the squad for the match against St Truiden. Let
us be very clear: if a player is mentally not ready to help the group, you
cannot use him. The ball is in his court.” Ngcongca holds the record for
the most appearances in Genk’s history at 275, but now looks unlikely to add to
that with Samara officials in Belgium last week to discuss a transfer. The Russian club is coached by Belgian Frank
Vercauteren, who led Genk and Ngcongca to the league title in the 2010/11
season. According to reports in Belgium there is also interest from France’s
Ligue 1 and the German Bundesliga, but Samara have been the most enthusiastic
so far.
Mamelodi Sundowns
coach Pitso Mosimane has hinted that the club may take legal action against
former employee Sizwe Gqogqo after the latter made damning allegations. In
media interviews, Gqogqo, who worked as a masseur for Sundowns, has accused
Mosimane of being a “bully” and claims the former Bafana Bafana coach
asked him to spy on current national team coach Shakes Mashaba when with the
team since Gqogqo has been working with national side. Gqogqo said: “I’m
not coming forward just because I’m upset they used trumped up charges to fire
me from a job I loved. I am doing so because the president [Patrice Motsepe]
does not know the extent of the rot taking place in his club. He needs to know
players and staff are living in fear. I am standing up for the many I left
behind who do not have a voice. Mosimane is a bully and thinks he owns
Sundowns. He has forgotten that he is just an employee. That man is dead to me.
He is dead to me.” Asked about
Gqogqo’s claims, Mosimane says the matter is in the club’s hands. “No, I
don’t want to talk about that and I have no comment on that. The team will
comment at the right time and maybe legal issues can be done, but maybe not.
The team will give direction on that,” he insists. Gqogqo was fired by
Sundowns following a four-month disciplinary inquiry. He was charged with assault
and singled out as the main aggressor in an altercation involving assistant kit
manager Skapy Butane and assistant manager Thato Mashego that took place at the
club’s Chloorkop headquarters in February. Gqogqo has dared Mosimane to take
legal action if he wishes to do so. “Pitso Mosimane can sue me. I would
rather walk down the streets naked without any clothes because I don’t care
whether he sues me,” he added in his interview.
Kaizer Chiefs winger
George Lebese says he is not deterred by his latest failure to break into the
Bafana Bafana squad. The 26-year-old was once again missing from Shakes
Mashaba’s 25-men squad announced to take on Mauritania in a 2017 Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier. Many football fans felt Lebese deserved a chance after a brilliant
2014/15 season and an equally good start to this campaign, but he is taking it
on the chin and moving on. “I work very hard already and I will just continue
to put in a good performance in every game for Kaizer Chiefs, with hopes that
it [Bafana call-up] will come one day. It is something I have absolutely no
control over. Me being selected or not is not in my hands. But I believe that
at the moment we have the right players representing the country and doing the
job for the national team. So I guess I will just have to continue supporting
the team, work hard and wait for my chance.” Lebese has four Bafana caps,
having made his debut against Ivory Coast in 2011.
The Council of
Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) is delighted to announce that
defending champions Namibia will host the COSAFA Cup 2016. Namibia will
stage the event for the first time in their history between May 15-29, 2016 at
two venues in the capital Windhoek – the Sam Nujoma Stadium and Independence
Stadium. It follows the country’s successful hosting of the 2014 African
Women’s Championship and has the full support of the Namibian Government and
all stakeholders in the country. The Ministry of Sport, Youth & National
Service confirmed to the Namibian Football Association (NFA) that they would
give the necessary financial guarantees to stage the event. Namibia this year
became the fifth nation to win the COSAFA Cup since its inception in 1997.
Zimbabwe and Zambia have four wins each, while South Africa and Angola have
each won on three occasions.
Free State Stars have
had a change of heart and decided to retain Belgian striker Andrea Fileccia and
register him for the new season. Fileccia had fallen out of favour at Stars
at the end of last season after a disappointing first year and was recommended
for release at the end of the season.
However, his contract and the fact that the club lost the
majority of their forwards from last season made it difficult for the two
parties to go their separate ways, which has eventually led to him staying on. Fileccia
started four games (plus one substitute appearance) last season, the last of
which was at the beginning of December, and was unsuccessful in getting his
name on the scoresheet. The 23-year-old has now been registered along with new
Tanzanian forward Mrisho Alfani Ngasa, Burkina Faso internationals Daouda
Diakite and Robert Sankara, while Zimbabwean defender Liberty Chakoroma is
still waiting for his work permit before being registered. Fileccia joined
Stars at the beginning of last season from Belgian third division club UR La
Louviere Centre at the recommendation of then Stars coach Tom Saintfiet.
Morgan Gould will be
ready for a Kaizer Chiefs first team return in early-September. The
centre-back has been on the sidelines since tearing his Achilles tendon against
Raja Casablanca in April. He has been doing some light training on his own and
the club have now put a date on his return, saying: “He should be totally ready
after the Fifa break [August 31 to September 8].” Fellow defender Daniel
Cardoso is still out for some time with a stress fracture to his shin.
New SuperSport United
midfielder Dean Furman insists his move to the Absa Premiership is not a
backwards step in his career. Furman was confirmed as SuperSport’s star
signing last week, raising questions as to whether his departure from English
league football is a retreat. Furman had not penned a new contract with an
English club since leaving Doncaster Rovers, but the 27-year-old midfielder
insists he is swapping one strong league for another. “I don’t see as a
backwards step at all,” he says. “From what I have seen while in the national
team and judging by the players I played with, the PSL is very strong. I know
it is a competitive league; strong, tough and physically challenging. For me as
a footballer, it is good to experience something different, so I don’t think it
will be a backwards step at all. “I think for me individually it will be a
chance to develop my game even further, playing different styles week in and
week out. Collectively as a team, SuperSport can go out and be successful this
season,” Furman continues. He says it was not a difficult decision to join
Matsatsantsa a Pitori after leaving England. “There were a few options in
Europe but after speaking to Stan Matthews, who told me about the project they
have here it wasn’t really a difficult decision. I’m very happy to be here and
I’m looking forward to get into training right away.”
Mpumalanga Black Aces
have reached an agreement to terminate the contract of Valery Nahayo paving the
way for the Burundian defender to continue with his career elsewhere. Nahayo
was threatening to take the club to the PSL DRC after hitting a dead end in his
attempts to resolve his issue with the club. Word reaching this website is that
Nahayo has now received his clearance after agreeing on a settlement fee for
the remaining months on his contract, which was due to expire in June next
year. Ivica Stankovic, the player’s representative, confirms that the former
Jomo Cosmos and Kaizer Chiefs defender is now a free man. “We have reached an
amicable solution with the club and the contract has now been terminated with a
settlement fee also agreed on. We are now looking at other opportunities for
him [Nahayo]. He has his clearance effective this week,” said Stankovic. Though
Stankovic was not forthcoming with revealing details of the settlement
agreement it is understood that Nahayo will be paid for almost half of the
months that were still left on his contract. Nahayo joined Aces early into last
season following his return from Belgium where he had been playing for KAA Gent
for three years. The 31-year-old, who holds South African permanent residency,
has also made it known that he is open to remaining in the PSL.
Former AmaZulu
midfielder John Arwuah has expressed his delight at joining Cypriot outfit AEL
Limassol. Arwuah penned a two-year contract with the club. The Ghanaian parted
ways with Usuthu amicably following their relegation to the National First
Division at the end of last season. “Loyalty doesn’t pay the bills but my
God has done it again, but I’m happy to be here,” said Arwuah on social
media. Arwuah will link up with Mamelodi Sundowns striker Mame Niang, who has
joined Limassol on loan. Roger da Costa and Dino Ndlovu also recently secured
moves to the Cypriot topflight from the Absa Premiership. Defender Da Costa has
signed with Aris Limassol, while striker Ndlovu is at Anorthosis Famagusta.
Mamelodi Sundowns
midfielder Samuel Julies confirms he is still at Chloorkop, though he is
training with the group of players not in the club’s plans for this season. Julies
spent the past two seasons on loan at First Division club Vasco da Gama. “I
still have a contract at Sundowns and that is why I am still here. I don’t know
what will happen next or if I will move to another club,” Julies said. The 24 year-old has not been registered for
this season and is training at the club’s B field under former assistant coach
Alex Bapela, along with plenty other players not in the plans for this season.
Since making his PSL debut during the 2011/12 season, Julies has started six
games, scoring three times.
Eleven new players is how FC Cape Town responded to their new
partnership with Investec and club director John Comitis believes there are
some exciting players in this group. FC Cape Town opened their
season with a 2-0 home win over African Warriors last weekend. One of those
players is Zimbabwe international Marshall Nyasha Munetsi, a highly-rated
19-year-old midfielder who was recently in Zimbabwe’s COSAFA Cup squad. Here
are the eleven new faces in detail: Marshall Munetsi – A 19-year-old Zimbabwe
international midfielder who joins from Blue Rangers FC in Zimbabwe. Siphelele
Magubane – A 22-year-old winger who joins the club from SuperSport United, who
also played in the USSASA Games for KZN between 2007 and 2009. Maboke Matlakala
– Formerly with Black Leopards, Matlakala is a 26-year-old striker. Bongane
Nyambi – The 25-year-old right back has been at Sivutsa Stars, Garankuwa United
and Royal Eagles. He was also at Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns’
development set ups. Steve Anoma – A big and strong centre back from the Ivory
Coast, Anoma is 20 and has four caps for his country’s Under 20 national side.
Blessing Makhathini – The 26-year-old goalkeeper has played for AmaZulu, Thanda
Royal Zulu and Free State Stars. He has been capped at Under 20 level for South
Africa. Shimi Radebe – A 23-year-old left back who played for FC AK and Black
Leopards prior to moving to the Mother City. Siphamandla Sithole – The
26-year-old centre back joins the club following stints at Black Leopards and
Durban Stars. Ntokozo Mbhele – A 22-year-old striker who previously played for
Black Leopards. Tsatsi Theletsane – The 22-year-old goalkeeper has been groomed
at SuperSport United’s academy and also played for Jomo Cosmos, Black Leopards
and Mbombela United. Luckyboy Mokoena – The 21-year-old defender has played for
Black Aces, Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits’ youth systems and has been capped
at Under 20 level for South Africa.
Belgian goalkeeper
Glenn Verbauwhede has been left out in the cold yet again after Mamelodi
Sundowns chose not to register him for this season despite taking up an option
on his contract. Sundowns extended his stay for a further year just three
months ago despite the player not featuring at all since signing for the club
in May 2013. He spent the past season on loan at Free State Stars but has
returned to find himself unwanted at Chloorkop, with four keepers having been
registered ahead of him. According to the latest PSL player registration list,
the Brazilians have registered Kennedy Mweene, Denis Onyango, Thela Ngobeni and
Wayne Sandilands for this season, leaving the Belgian feeling lonely as he
waits in the club’s corridor of darkness. Verbauwhede has been spotted at
Chloorkop not training with the rest of the first-team squad, which has even
invited keepers from its development in recent weeks to make up numbers, with
Ngobeni and Sandilands in the gym as they work their way back from minor
injuries. The 30-year-old has also been working out in the gym and is
apparently unhappy that the club chose not to accept an offer that was recently
tabled for his services by a Scandinavian club. Word is that efforts will be
made to loan him out again this season, failure of which he will remain stuck
at the club until a move can be arranged during the January transfer window or
when his contract expires in June 2016. Verbauwhede played just five games
while on loan at Stars last season and has spent a sizeable chunk of his time
in the country battling with injuries.
Black Leopards have
rejected a bid for Roggert Nyundu, according to the striker’s representative
Lizwe Mthethwa. Nyundu’s future was cast into doubt after a proposed move
to Bidvest Wits triggered claims the player signed deals with the Students and
Leopards. Lidoda Duvha have since registered Nyundu for the season, with the
ex-Polokwane City man scoring in a 2-0 win over Milano United in the opening
round of the National First Division on the weekend. “After all that
happened with Bidvest Wits, as you know he trained with them, but it is not
true that he signed with Wits,” Mthethwa said. “He never signed
anything with Wits. All that happened is he trained with them. We had a meeting
with the team [Leopards]. We, my company, came in to work with him after an
offer had been made and it was a better offer from another club which I can’t
mention now. But it came out that he has a three-year deal with Leopards and we
spoke to the team that was interested. They drafted a formal offer for Leopards
but the [Leopards boss] Chief [Thidiela] told me he wants PSL promotion and
Nyundu is not for sale. We respected that decision and we’re happy with our
talks with the Chief regarding the player. But he will be the NFD top goal
scorer this season.” Meanwhile,
Mthethwa also confirmed Mamelodi Sundowns have off-loaded Xolani Mdaki to
second-tier side Vasco da Gama. “Xolani Mdaki has been loaned out to Vasco
da Gama on a season-long loan,” Mthethwa says. He also spent last season
on loan in Sweden to Djurgardens and then came back to train with the Sundowns
first team here. But they felt that he still needs to work on his game so they
decided to loan him out to get game time.”
Former AmaZulu
striker Mfanafuthi Dlamini has joined Royal Eagles. Dlamini left Usuthu in
the off-season after barely featuring for the first team.
Chippa United
midfielder Chris Matombo is back at the club after reportedly going missing
last week. The 21-year-old, who is on loan from Kaizer Chiefs, went missing
last week ahead of a trip to Johannesburg to face Orlando Pirates. Chilli Boys
coach Roger Sikhakhane said Matombo is now back: “He has been fined by the
club. He is back at training and is available for team selection.”
With six days to go (as at 25 September) before the transfer
window closes, we look at seven players who need moves to progress in their
careers.
Wayne Sandilands
The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper has gone from being a
second choice for Bafana Bafana to third choice at his club behind Kennedy
Mweene and Denis Onyango. The 32-year-old has been linked with a move from
Chloorkop since the arrival of Mweene in 2013 but with six days remaining
before the transfer window closes, it seems as if a move is unlikely to happen.
Erwin Isaacs
Isaacs spent the first few months of last season playing for
Bidvest Wits’ Diski Challenge team before he was sent on loan to Ajax Cape Town
where he scored three goals in 11 matches. Ajax refused to make the move
permanent and Isaacs returned to Wits, where he is surplus to requirements.
After making a mere 27 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons, it will be ideal
for the player to move.
Kwanda Mngonyama
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has already made it
clear that the talented defender is not ready to play for the Brazilians and he
is likely to leave the club this week. But the question still remains: Why did
the club sign him in the first place? Mngonyama spent the last two seasons on
loan at Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United and a permanent deal would be ideal.
Lehlogonolo Masalesa
When ‘Vieira’ joined Orlando Pirates in 2012 he was rated as
a rising star but three seasons later he is yet to stamp his authority on the
team. When his former Bidvest Wits coach Roger de Sa was in charge at Pirates,
the midfielder made a handful of appearances. Now competing with the likes Oupa
Manyisa, Issa Sarr, Thandani Ntshumayelo and Thandani Ntshumayelo, the
23-year-old will find it difficult to break into the side.
Luyolo Nomandela
Signed for reportedly R5-million from Free State Stars,
Nomandela is also one of the players linked with a move away from Sundowns.
After a scintillating debut season in 2012/13, Nomandela joined Sundowns in
2014 before he was loaned to Moroka Swallows, where he spent the last six
months of the 2014/15 season. With competition for places tough at Sundowns,
Mosimane has also made it clear that the player can leave if he wants to
continue with his career elsewhere. At the age of 25, it will also be in the
interests of the player to move.
Levy Mokgothu
Mokgothu had a great debut season in the maroon and white
colours of Moroka Swallows. But after joining Kaizer Chiefs at the beginning of
the 2014/15 season the left back found the going tough and one of the known
reasons was that he was signed by the club’s general manager Bobby Motaung, not
by then-coach Stuart Baxter. This season Chiefs registered Lorenzo Gordinho for
the left-back position, in a team that already has Tsepo Masilela and Simphiwe
Mtsweni. As a fourth choice, it’s very clear that Mokgothu won’t catch a game.
Lindokuhle Mbatha
Sundowns are yet to register Lindokuhle Mbatha for this
season and the 30-year-old is linked with a move to Mpumalanga Black Aces or
Platinum Stars. The midfielder was one of the best players for Dikwena during
the club’s impressive 2013/14 season and was linked with the big three, but
opted but for Sundowns. However, he has struggled for game-time and was not
registered for this year’s unsuccessful CAF Champions League campaign.
SA players abroad
round-up: Kagisho Dikgacoi provided an assist, Dino Ndlovu scored on debut,
Darren Keet kept a clean sheet, while Mandla Masango and Tokelo Rantie missed
out on European action on the weekend.
KAGISHO DIKGACOI
Dikgacoi provided an assist for English Championship side
Cardiff City as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0. It was also the first
time he has completed 90 minutes this season.
ANDILE JALI
Jali came off after 64 minutes of KV Oostende’s 2-1 win over
Standard Liege that keeps them top of the league in Belgium.
DARREN KEET
Keet stood firm for KV Kortrijk as they played to a goalless
draw with Gent in Belgium.
MANDLA MASANGO
Despite getting his work permit on Thursday, Masango was not
included in the match-day 18 for Danish side Randers for the 1-0 loss to Viborg
as the club felt the game had come too soon for him.
KAMOHELO MOKOTJO
Played for Dutch side FC Twente in their 2-1 loss to PEC
Zwolle.
DINO NDLOVU
Scored on debut for Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta as they
won 2-0 over AEL.
ANELE NGCONGCA
Ngcongca was left out of the Genk squad for the 3-1 loss at
St Truiden in the Belgian league. The exit door looms …
RICARDO NUNES
Nunes played for Polish side Pogoń Szczecin as they were
held to a 1-1 draw by Wisła Kraków.
AYANDA PATOSI
Patosi played the full game as his Belgian side Lokeren lost
1-0 at Anderlecht.
LEBOGANG PHIRI
Phiri played the full game for Danish side Brondby as they
won 1-0 at home to Sonderjyske.
TOKELO RANTIE
Rantie was again missing from the match-day 18 for English
Premier League side Bournemouth as they claimed a first-ever topflight win with
a 4-3 success at West Ham United. Andrew Surman did start for the third game in
a row.
DAYLON CLAASEN
Claasen, recently recalled to the Bafana Bafana squad,
played for 1860 Munich in their German Bundesliga II goalless draw with Union
Berlin.
TIYA SHIPALANE
Shipalane was replaced at halftime as his USA second-tier
side Carolina Railhawks were beaten 3-1 at home by New York Cosmos.
STEVE CANN
Goalkeeper Cann kept a clean sheet as Port Albert Town got
their Welsh Premier League season underway with a 0-0 home draw against Bala
Town.