PSL clubs chase new talent SEARCH FOCUSES ON EUROPE
Several Premier Soccer League clubs are looking to Europe for reinforcements for the coming season, including new champions Bidvest Wits.
Club officials have headed to Portugal to try and sign up new talent for Gavin Hunt, while SuperSport United have had emissaries in both England and the Netherlands looking for players and coaches.
Ajax Cape Town and Cape Town City have also put out feelers for overseas talent as they seek to bolster their squads.
Clubs are looking for central defenders and strikers to bolster departments where home-based talent is not emerging.
Ever since Alje Schut, then a 31-yearold, arrived from Utrecht at Mamelodi Sundowns in 2012 and proved an instant success with his ability to read the game and play with his left and right foot, clubs have been scratching for mature centre backs.
The arrival of Jeremy Brockie from New Zealand and the goal explosion that followed stirred interest in players from Down Under among PSL clubs with Michael Boxall also coming to SuperSport United and then a flurry of unsuccessful signings made by other clubs, including newcomers Cape Town City.
But now the focus is back on Europe where clubs hope to get ready-made players for the new campaign.
Wits had success with journeyman striker James Keane, who had played briefly in the Premier League with Portsmouth but spent most of his career in Scandinavia.
The transfer market opened last week, but there has been little early movement with the only major signing that of former Bafana Bafana midfielder Ayanda Patosi by Cape Town City.
He previously played for Lokeren in Belgium, but did not have his contract renewed because of disciplinary issues.
Clubs have until the end of August to sign new players, after which only players who are out of contract may be registered with the PSL before the next transfer window opens on 1 January 2018.