Kwazulu-Natal-based outfit Richards Bay FC show interest in gifted midfielder
MFresh from winning the MTN Premier League title, Green Mamba box-to-box midfielder Mxolisi ‘Kudus’ Mkhonto is attracting interest from top leagues.
South Africa’s DStv Premiership side Richards Bay are said to be interested in having the Inyoka Eluhlazane’s sensational player.
‘Kudus’, as he is fondly known, has produced great performance for his side, which has seen him being earmarked for the Player of the Season Award, after leading his team to the MTN Premier League title.
The player, who also picked up the February’s MTN Premier League Player of the Month Award, finished the season on nine goals and scored in his side’s last game of the season against Royal Leopard.
“Richards Bay have been left impressed by Mxolisi and they are seriously looking to bring him on board next season, after having impressed the technical team.
MChallenging
“The club believes that he can add value in their ambitions of challenging for the league next season and is a player that management of the club believes can replace Nkanyiso Zungu, who recently parted ways with the club,” shared a source within the player’s camp.
Richards Bay Football Club is a South African football club based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The club was formed when Thanda Royal Zulu F.C. owner Pierre Delvaux sold the club’s league status to AmaZulu F.C.
AmaZulu had finished in fifth place during the 2016–17 National First Division. Thanda Royal Zulu had finished in first place, achieving automatic promotion.
AmaZulu bought the placing from
BABANE - Young Buffaloes are all about breaking records.
The army side is among the teams in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to have finished the league without losing a single game. The Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlaminiled charges played 26 games without suffering defeat and they eventually finished as runners-up in the MTN Premier League. They won 16 times and drawn 10 times. Their record stretches from last season and they
Thanda Royal Zulu, taking the position in the 2017–18 South African Premier Division.
On February 7, 2021, the club achieved the biggest win in their history when they defeated top Premier Soccer League side Kaizer Chiefs F.C. 2-1 in a Nedbank Cup, last 32 match. Some of the players playing for the squad with an average age of 26 include, among others, Luvuyo Memela, Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Abel Mabaso.
The ‘Natali Rich Boys’, as they are fondly known, are currently sitting on position 13 on then log standings.
They will not be the only team vying for the Correctional Services side captain’s signature.
Two of Zambia’s top sides in Zesco United and Zanaco have also shown
Country Eswatini Angola Botswana Zambia Lesotho Mauritius South Africa Tanzania
Team
Young Buffaloes Petro de Luanda Galaxy
Power Dynamos Bantu
Grande Rivier Mamelodi Sundowns Young Africans
PL 26 28 27 33 29 18 29 28
W 16 22 19 17 20 13 21 24
are now unbeaten in 42 straight league matches.
The last time they suffered a defeat was in February 10, 2022 where they lost 3-1 to Royal Leopard in interest in the box-to-box midfielder. Zesco are the same team that signed former Young Buffaloes right-back Lindo Mkhonta early this year.
TABLE OF SELECTED SADC TEAMS AND THEIR RECORDS:
D 10 3 6 14 5 3
6
2
L 0 3 2 2 4 2 2 2
Aware
Meanwhile, the Inyoka Eluhlazane skipper mentioned after their game against Royal Leopard that he was aware that they were teams interested in having him for next season, but remained a Green Mamba player.
“I’m aware that there are clubs interested in having my services for next season but I’m fully committed to the club.
“It has been a great season for the club and for me personally, and right now the most important thing is to rest and come back next season stronger,” he said.
GF 49 61 57 47 54 31 51 56
GA 18 16 21 14 13 9 12 15
GD +31 +45 +36 +33 +41 +22 +39 +41
Points 58
69
63
65
65
42
69
74
the 2021/22 season. Since then, they have been annexing three points or at least a point.
In other leagues, even in top leagues like in South Africa, Dstv Premiership
The player’s agent, Dingane Maduma, who also facilitated the move for Mkhonta to Zesco United, when asked on the latest developments surrounding the player, sounded surprised how this publication got the news, because they were just fresh.
“Yes it is true that Richards Bay has shown strong interest to have the player and we have held discussions with the club Chairman Brian Biyela about the player and we will see what happens with the season ending this week.
“There is also Zesco United and Zenaco in Zambia, who have shown strong interest to have the player in their teams for next season,” he added. champions Mamelodi Sundowns lost two times with one game to go before the curtain fell for the richest-sponsored league in SADC.
Angola side Petro de Luanda have also suffered defeat in their 28 games outings.
Suffered
They have lost three times, while Botswana’s Galaxy also suffered two defeats in 27 games. Zambia log leaders, Power Dynamos, have also lost two games in 33 outings.
Lesotho’s Bantu FC are also not invincible as they have lost four times in 29 games.
Meanwhile, the champions of Eswatini, Green Mamba, lost five times, won 20 games and drew one game.
They were seen celebrating with the team as they took selfies and tossed some of the players as well
Should the move materialise, the league winner could follow in the footsteps of players like Banele ‘Pupu ‘ Sikhondze, Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst and Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, who are some of the latest local players who have played in the lucrative DStv Premiership.
Justice Figuareido remains the only liSwati playing in South