Stars secure Mkhabela on loan deal

FORMER Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Enocent Mkhabela has joined Platinum Stars on loan until the end of the season.

Mkhabela, 27, is the fourth player to join Dikwena in this transfer window following the signings of defender Willem Mwedihanga and midfielders Abia Nale and Gerald Phiri.

“We are proud to say that we have managed to get Mkhabela on a loan deal from Kaizer Chiefs‚” Stars general manager Senzo Mazingiza said.

“Mkhabela’s signing brings balance to the team and moreover he has worked with coach Cavin Johnson in the past.”

The midfielder made his PSL debut with Stars in 2011 before moving to SuperSport United.

He was one of eight new players paraded by Chiefs in June last year, but after an unsuccessful spell with Amakhosi he is on the move again.

“We were looking at signing three players but we have managed to get four‚ which is fantastic for us,” Mazingiza said.

“Even though we had challenges with the budget‚ we have managed to move things around and make signings, and we are proud to have achieved that.

“Mkhabela is with us now and this is the last of our signings for now, but you never know.

“If Cristiano Ronaldo comes and we are able to sign him‚ we will definitely do that‚” Mazingiza joked.

Dikwena’s first league match after the resumption of the Premiership campaign is a tough clash against Orlando Pirates at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on February 8.

Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits will make a mad dash in and out of Reunion for their African Champions League preliminary round first-leg clash against Saint-Louisienne on February 11.

Gavin Hunt’s side will fly in the day before the game and leave the day after‚ hoping to get a sizeable advantage to take back to South Africa for the return fixture a week later, which would afford the team the opportunity to rest players.

Wits host Ajax Cape Town on February 7 and will have two days to prepare for Saint-Louisienne.

Saint-Louisienne should be no match for even a distracted Wits side‚ who have promised to give the Champions League a real go this year.

The Clever Boys are playing in the Champions League competition for the first time and will have been buoyed not only by the recognition Mamelodi Sundowns’ success brought last year‚ but also the riches that come with playing at the Fifa Club World Cup.

South Africa’s second participant this year‚ defending champions Sundowns‚ have received a bye through the first stage.