EA LLA KOTO OFFER FALLS SHORT IN MBOMBO CHASE

Free State Stars were looking to beat Kaizer Chiefs and other PSL clubs to a striker from Democratic Republic of the Congo, but have failed in their bid to do so, according to sources in the know.

The Siya crew previously reported on the interest from PSL clubs in Idriss Mbombo, from the DRC, who has been on a rich scoring form in Zam- bia for Nkana FC. Mbombo scored over 20 goals for the Zambian outfit, which led to the player being linked to Chiefs, SuperSport United and Baroka FC, amongst other PSL clubs.

The latest information reaching the Siya crew is that Ea Lla Koto recently tried to sign the player, and while the Bethlehem-based outfit is believed to have managed to bring the player to Mzansi two weeks ago, the deal fell through as the highly rated 22-year-old decided on signing with Sudanese giants, Al Hilal.

“Idriss Mbombo was here in South Africa two weeks ago. He arrived on a Tuesday (October 23), after they (Nkana) had played a weekend’s game against Power Dynamos (on October 21). He came here with his mentor from DRC,” a source told the Siya crew.

“After landing at the O.R. Tambo International Airport, the player was accompanied to Bethlehem, but after a few days of negotiations with Stars, the player disappeared, only for the people who were involved in negotiating the deal on his behalf to be alerted of his signing with a club in Sudan for an offer of over R2 million,” added the source.

According to the informant, Stars were looking at offering the player an attractive package, in the region of R1.5 million per annum. Mbombo is said to have signed a two-year deal with Al Hilal, after he scored 21 league goals for Nkana in 2018.