Sale just about a done deal
Orlando Pirates yesterday announced the signing of Thamsanqa Sangweni from Chippa United on a threeyear deal, seemingly pipping Bidvest Wits to the 28 year-old midfielder’s signature.
Wits coach Gavin Hunt confirmed last week that Sangweni was training with the Clever Boys, but the Buccaneers sprung a surprise in announcing that it was they who had captured the former AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns player.
“I am very happy to have joined the club. I look forward to making a positive contribution to the team and help the team to bounce back to where we all know it belongs,” Sangweni told the Pirates official website.
“I would like to thank the chairman (Chippa Mpengesi), the staff and the supporters of Chippa United for all they have done for me, I will be forever grateful.”
Thamsanqa is the younger brother of former Pirates and Bafana Bafana central defensive star Siyabonga Sangweni.
It remains to be seen if the younger Sangweni is coached by Kjell Jonevret next season, after a dismal 2016/17 campaign ended in an embarrassing defeat to SuperSport in the Nedbank Cup final. But the Swede has remained confident he will bring the club back to its best in the upcoming season.
“When I arrived here, I hoped it would be easier, we tried to stabilise the team and the fact that we got to the final was proof,” claimed the Pirates mentor.
The club’s poor display which sees the team not being part of next year’s MTN8 Cup competition for the first time in the PSL era, has raised a lot of questions around the current squad.
Ahead of the new season, Jonevret indicated that the club needs new faces in order to start challenging for silverware. and to compete with other best teams in the league
“I’m hungry for success, I want an opportunity to have a full season with my team and we will get better. We need a few changes in personnel in order to be a top team again, but it is premature to talk about that,” the Swede added. An official announcement of AmaZulu’s return to the Absa Premiership is expected this week after the Durban-based team filed the missing documentation, which the Premier Soccer League (PSL) requested before approving their acquisition of Thanda Royal Zulu’s status.
The sale of Amabhubesi’s status to Usuthu – which Phakaaathi broke a few weeks ago – has been dragging on for a while and has left players of both team unsure of where they will be playing in the upcoming season. But it looks like the matter will be finally settled this week if what Phakaaathi has gathered is anything to go by.
The PSL’s Executive Committee last week could not rule on the matter as there were some missing documents, according to acting CEO Mato Madlala.
Speaking to Ukhozi FM’s Victor Molife on Friday, Madlala confirmed that the PSL had received the request for Usuthu to take over Amabhubesi’s status.
“There was one document which was not included and which is very important that the committee asked for. Both teams have to file it separately. If and when they have filed it, the committee will then decide,” she said and declined to reveal what that document was.
A Phakaaathi source revealed that the missing document is a proof of purchase. Usuthu spokesman, Brilliant Mkhathini said the teams have since filed the document. “We now await the PSL on the outcome,” said Mkhathini.
Phakaaathi understands that the PSL relies on this document to ensure there are no problems in the future.
A source said the PSL wants to ensure all monies have been fully paid before it approves a deal.