Aces Sign Mbesuma
Former Orlando Pirates striker Collins Mbesuma has signed a
two-year contract with Mpumalanga Black Aces. The Zambian penned the
deal on Friday after impressing on a short training stint with the club
following his release from Bucs in the off-season. AmaZayoni boss Mario Morfou
says they are expecting “big things” of Mbesuma, who plundered 35
goals for Kaizer Chiefs in 2004/05.
Raymond Monama and
Thamsanqa Sangweni look set to leave Mamelodi Sundowns as both players are
deemed surplus to requirements. Sangweni joined Sundowns from AmaZulu at
the beginning of the 2012/13 season and spent last term on loan at Ajax Cape
Town. While Monama, who joined from Black Leopards, spent six months on loan at
University of Pretoria after playing only seven minutes for Sundowns. More players
are likely to leave Chloorkop when the team returns from a pre-season camp in
Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Nigerian international Ezoenyi Ejike arrives at Downs
after getting a special holiday due to being at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
Former Maritzburg United and Orlando Pirates defender
Robyn Johannes is training with Amazulu in the hope of getting a contract.
The 27-year-old was released by Maritzburg United and trained with Bidvest
Wits for a while, but failed to make an impression.
Kaizer Chiefs have
marked 22 July as the date they will announce their squad for the 2014/15
season. Amakhosi, who have already unveiled the new Nike kit their players
will wear during the upcoming campaign, have signed former Platinum Stars
striker Siphelele Mthembu. They are also in talks with Mpumalanga Black Aces
for the services of midfielder Thabo Qalinge. Defender Jimmy Jambo is widely
expected to part ways with Chiefs while the club has also been linked with a
swoop for Ajax Cape Town player Keagan Dolly together with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Bloemfontein Celtic
have announced the signing of teenage striker Tshepo Chaine on a two-year deal
from Black Urbans. The 18-year-old, who hails from Botshabelo, has spent
the past two weeks training with Phunya Sele Sele. Chaine told Celtic’s
official website: “I am very excited to join such a big team as Celtic and am
looking forward to making a mark in PSL football. Joining Celtic will serve as
a motivation to the local youth.”
Kurt Lentjies will
continue his football at Maritzburg United this season, according to the club’s
operations manager Quintin Jettoo. Lentjies was believed to have courted
attention from Platinum Stars and AmaZulu in the off-season, but Jettoo says
the midfielder has committed his services to United.”Kurt is not
leaving,” says Jettoo. “He had signed a six-month contract plus an
option. We have exercised the option.” The 29-year-old Lentjies returned
to the Team of Choice in January from SuperSport United. He went on to score
four goals, provide as many assists, and earn two penalties for Steve
Komphela’s side in 2013/14.
Ajax Cape Town coach Roger De Sa has explained why he
released Toriq Losper to Bidvest Wits in exchange for Robin Ngalande ahead of
the new season. De Sa feels that Ajax were lacking in the striking
department as they only scored 27 goals last season, and therefore he recruited
Malawian hitman Ngalande at the expense of midfielder Losper. “We lost Losper
but we gained Ngalande which is an area we needed, that goal scoring ability
and also he’s an international player,” said De Sa. “So I think Losper was a
player of ours but I think Ngalande has something we don’t have.” The Urban
Warriors are currently in George for a week-long pre-season camp.
Moroka Swallows have
confirmed the signing of three European players ahead of the new season. One
of the additions is Obren Cuckovic, a 1.93m tall goalkeeper from Serbia.
Cuckovic is 31 years old and spent last season at FK Mladost Podgorica, a team
from Montenegro. The second player is Vladimir Mandic, a 27-year-old Slovenian
mdfielder. Mandic is described as an aggressive, disciplined player with good
technique and possesses both offensive and defensive characteristics. However,
his previous club is unnamed. The last player to be roped in is central
defender Boris Savic, a 26-year-old from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played for
Serbian club FK Rudar last season. The Dube Birds have also signed Kenyan
midfielder Kevin Omondi, Lucky Baloyi and Philani Cele.
Attacking midfielders
Miguel Timm and Bhongolethu Jayiya have completed their move to Mpumalanga
Black Aces from Bidvest Wits. They both penned three-year contracts on
Monday. Timm, who was on loan at Aces last season, told the club’s website:
“I really enjoyed my time at Aces last season and appreciate the
opportunity and I must admit I’m delighted to be at Aces. It’s a good team with
a great coach and there’s a good bunch of players who on our day can beat
anyone in the League.” Jayiya added: “I’m excited to join Aces and
intend living up to my motto of delivering when it matters most.”
Zimbabwe captain
Partson Jaure looks set to complete his move to University of Pretoria.
Jaure is expected to sign a long-term contract with AmaTuks after travelling to
South Africa soon after the Harare derby between his club Dynamos and Caps
United at the weekend. His manager Kudzai Shaba confirmed the impending deal as
Tuks seek to offset the departure of Bafana Bafana defender Buhle Mkhwanazi to
Bidvest Wits.
Platinum Stars are trying their best to hold onto star player Mogakolodi Ngele
by offering him a much-improved contract. The midfielder has been heavily
courted by Orlando Pirates, who have already announced the signing of another
Dikwena player in Issa Sarr. But a source close to the player says that Ngele
might opt to stay after the new deal was presented to him.
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt is looking
to sign Old Mutual Academy youngster Rodwell Bezuidenhout. Hunt first
invited Bezuidenhout for a trial last year, but the three-time League champion
felt the player was not ready to join his roster at that stage. However,
Bezuidenhout recently returned to Milpark for a second assessment, and Hunt is
impressed with the progress that he has made. “The young boy from Old Mutual
Academy, a left-back, and we are going sign him,” says Hunt. “We have been
watching him for two years now. He came to us last year and we sent him back to
play to get his strength up. “He has strengthened up and he’s much stronger
this year, better than last year in terms of physicality and he has done well
on the camp for us,” Hunt added.
Siyabonga Sangweni is back training with Orlando Pirates but
the defender is still without a new contract. The 32-year-old had
stopped training with the club after the expiry of his contract on June 30, but
he returned last week leading to suggestions that his contract situation had
been resolved. As it turns out,
though, the former Golden Arrows centre-back has not signed on the dotted line
yet. “No, I’m waiting for the chairman [Dr Irvin Khoza] to return and I’m
hoping to meet him this week to finalise the matter,” said Sangweni’s business
manager Mike Makaab.
AmaZulu claimed the KwaZulu-Natal leg of
Under-17 Engen Knockout Challenge at the Highbury Sports Grounds in Wentworth
after a 1-0 win over Greenwood Park Friends on Sunday. The Usuthu juniors
sealed their ticket to the Final after they beat Young Boys Academy, while
Friends caused somewhat of an upset when they disposed of Golden Arrows. The
fourth leg of the Engen Knockout Challenge takes place in Gauteng from July
18-20.
Former Orlando Pirates striker Takesure
Chinyama has gone club hunting in Zimbabwe after being released by Platinum
Stars. Chinyama is trying his luck with Bulawayo club Highlanders after failing
to secure a place at his former club Dynamos. Highlanders Chief Executive
Officer Ndumiso Gumede confirms they are in talks with the striker: “We are
looking at where we can fit him, but at the moment nothing concrete has been
settled yet.”
Newly crowned Gauteng Sports Personality of the Year Teko
Modise says the award has inspired him “to work even harder”.
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder on Friday beat Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng
Khune to the regional prize, as well as cricketer Faf du Plessis and athlete
Mapasaka Makhanya. Modise told his
club’s website: “I would really like to thank all the people that voted for me
from the bottom of my heart, the Sundowns technical team and my teammates. This
award really inspires me to work even harder because at least I know that there
are people who take note when you do good. “I have won awards before and they
are all special but this one here has a special place in my heart because it’s
from the people that we do all this for.” Modise played a key role in Downs’
Premiership triumph last season.
Platinum Stars have
signed a Lucky Nguzana on a two-year deal. The 23-year-old confirmed
saying: “Yes, I have signed a two-year deal with Platinum Stars. “Obviously I’m happy and I hope this
two years will be fruitful ones. I’ll give everything on the field and I’m
grateful to Dikwena for trusting my abilities. I have what it takes and, given
the time, I will prove it to them.”Nguzana refused to be drawn on what happened
at AmaZulu, where he was supposed to have signed a longer deal after spending
six months at the club.
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Lucky Khune
has re-surfaced at Royal Eagles hoping to get a contract with the Durban-based
side. Khune is currently clubless after parting ways with United FC at the
end of last season. Should the 24 year-old be signed he will join former
Amakhosi striker Justice Sithole, who is also part of the team. In other club
news, former Free State Stars midfielder Duncan Lechesa is the new coach at
Eagles replacing David Bright. Lechesa will be assisted by Jomo Ntuli and David
Notoane while John Tlale remains goalkeeper coach.
Former Royal Eagles
boss David Bright is in talks with FC Cape Town, who have been without a coach
since David Lechesa left the club at the end of last season. Bright was
dumped by Eagles at the start of the month, just a few weeks after taking
charge of the Durban-based side. However,
the ex-Santos mentor may soon be back in the National First Division.
Maritzburg United have made enquiries
about signing midfielder Abia Nale. Nale is a free agent after Kaizer Chiefs did not renew his
contract for the upcoming season after spending last season on-loan at
Mpumalanga Black Aces. The midfielder could now find a new home in
KwaZulu-Natal with United according to a source close to the
player.”Maritzburg United have made an offer to the player. Both parties
are still talking and Nale looks like he really wants to come and play for
United,” says the source.
Mamelodi Sundowns
midfielder Dove Wome could be heading to SuperSport United. Wome, who
struggled for game-time last season, was left behind when the Brazilians
departed for a pre-season camp in Zimbabwe. And according to a source close to
the former Free State Stars man, negotiations between United and Sundowns over
his services are now at an advanced stage.
The tug of war
between Chippa United and Ajax Cape Town for the services of Nigerian striker
George Akpabio is far from over. Akpabio recently signed a two-year
contract with United after spending last season on loan at the club from Ajax.
However, the Urban Warriors are adamant that Akpabio is still their player
after exercising a one-year option on his contract. Chilli Boys boss Chippa
Mpengesi confirmed the matter could now be heading to the PSL’s Dispute
Resolution Chamber.
Chippa United are on the verge of signing attacking
midfielder Erwin Isaacs from Bidvest Wits. Isaacs pulled no punches
when saying in June that he wants out of Wits due to insufficient game-time,
and the Students appear to have granted him his wish. The 27-year-old is set to
pen a three-year contract with the Chilli Boys, who are also chasing another
ex-Santos star in Mamelodi Sundowns striker Eleazar Rodgers. United boss Chippa
Mpengesi has confirmed the imminent capture of Isaacs.
Black Leopards have
enlisted the services of coach Ashwin Sutton as part of their technical team
this coming season. Sutton has joined former Amajita coach Solly Luvhengo
as part of Lidoda Duvha in their mission to gain promotion to the PSL next
season. Sutton has worked for a number of teams in the NFD including African
Warriors and Sivutsa Stars, now known as Royal Eagles.