Clear-out looms at Sundowns
Mosimane promises adjustments to strengthen side after cup final
PITSO Mosimane has revealed that he will initiate a player clear-out at Mamelodi Sundowns after he struggled to find room in his squad for some of them.
At the Lucas Moripe Stadium against AmaTuks at the weekend, the Brazilians looked a different outfit, with fringe players getting a run.
Wayne Arendse, Mario Booysen, Elias Pelembe, Mame Niang, Asavela Mbekile and Rodney Ramagalela all got a rare start in the club’s final Premier League match of the season, which they won 1-0. Fourthchoice goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni also played his only game of the campaign.
Mosimane did not single out any player, but made it clear he would recruit to strengthen his side, while letting others go.
“As early as next week after the Nedbank Cup final against Ajax we might make some announcements. We need to do our post-season assessment and give other guys a chance to play if they couldn’t get it.
“There’s no need to hoard players who you haven’t given a chance, especially when they have been at the club for more than two years,” he said.
“When you look at the statistics and you look at the number of games played, you realise you cannot be hoarding and you need to give other guys a chance.”
Mosimane also hit back at reports that the club did not want to let go of defender Method Mwanjali: “We offered him a clearance six months ago, but he opted to stay.
“Why should I keep a player I have not used in two years? Why would I want to frustrate the poor boy? He must come out because we don’t owe him a cent, we paid him.”
Downs are yet to renew the contracts of attacking mid- fielders Pelembe and Anthony Laffor. However, the duo are clearly keen to remain at the club as they have not signed pre-contracts elsewhere.
ý Mamelodi Sundowns captain Alje Schut will keep playing when he gets back to the Netherlands after his final game for the Brazilians this weekend.
The 34-year-old centre back, who is expected to lead out the Tshwane-based club in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final, has signed to play for Dutch amateur champions Kozakken Boys next season.
They play in the third tier of Dutch football but are not going up to the second division despite winning their league, to keep their amateur status.
Schut, who spent 11 years at FC Utrecht before joining Sundowns, had previously said he wanted a change in his career that would combine playing for a smaller club with his bid to get his coaching badges.
Schut is also going back home to Holland for family reasons as his children are now at an age where they need to be schooled in their home-language Dutch.
His last game for Sundowns on Sunday will be his 86th start for the club. He has scored nine goals during his three seasons in South Africa.
Bidvest Wits have confirmed that their Dutch import, Kees Kwakman, who did not have the desired impact that Schut had, is leaving after a single season. He has signed a three-year contract with Dutch second-division club FC Volendam, where he began his career. “After six moves it is a great moment for me and my family to go back to Volendam,” he said.
The 31-year-old started 21 league and cup games for Wits this season, scoring three times.