ALEXANDER’S CONTRACT LENGTH REVEALED
As revealed by the Siya crew last week, Cole Alexander has penned a deal with Polokwane City, paving thewayfortheplayertomakeareturn to domestic football.
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder is back in the country after his contract in Sweden with Helsingborg IF expired at the end of 2023. It did not take him long to find a new home, as Rise and Shine snapped him up ahead of Cape Town Spurs, who were understood to also have been interested in his services.
According to information received by this publication, the 34-year-old has signed an 18-month contract, which will keep him at the club until June 2025. This should come as a big boost for a player headed for the twilight of his playing career.
There is no option to extend, but with players in their 30s – such as Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Erick Mathoho, KhamaBilliatandAubreyNgoma– struggling to find clubs, Alexander will no doubt be happy with the fact there is a club that has offered him a contract longer than a season.
This will be his second spell with the Limpopo-based outfit, having also turned out for them between 2014 and 2016.
R.I.P, BERNARD HARTZE
With the family of Bernard Hartze finalising preparations for his funeral, his former teammate and close friend Essop ‘Smiley’ Moosa has paid a glowing tribute to departed legend.
‘Dancing Shoes’, as Hartze was fondly known, passed away last Tuesday after a battle with illness.
During his professional career, he played for Pretoria Callies, Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Cape Town Spurs, as well as Tampa Bay Rowdies FC in the United States of America, among others. He was 73.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is one of many in the fraternity who conveyed their condolence messages on the passing of one of Mzansi’s greatest-ever footballers.
“What Bernard, Ingle (Singh) and Tantie (Vincent Julius) taught me, I will never forget. They made me one of the best players this country ever saw. When I played for Berea Park, the great Mario Tuani asked where they got me from. We beat Rangers 3-1 and I was the star of the show thanks to Bernard, Ingle and Tantie and my Creator,” said Moosa.
“Bernard was truly a great player and his brilliance rubbed off on me. I miss those days of playing with him and Ingle. My heart is broken that Bernard is no more, just like Ingle who also passed away not long ago. May their souls rest in peace,” he added.
As confirmed by Hartze’s family, his funeral service will be held this Saturday in Cape Town, with the finer details about the time, venue and location to be communicated in due course.
Soccer Laduma sends condolences to Hartze’s family and friends.