Cape Argus

FURMAN WILL BE LEAVING UNITED

SuperSport skipper has not changed his plans to return to the UK to play football

- MINENHLE MKHIZE minenhle.mkhize@inl.co.za | Graphic: MATTHYS MOSS | Pictures: BackpagePi­x

BAFANA Bafana and SuperSport United midfielder Dean Furman is still preparing to return to the United Kingdom next season despite the country being in turmoil due to the coronaviru­s outbreak.

Furman’s current deal with Matsatsant­sa A Pitori is set to expire at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old has indicated his desire to move back to the country where he grew up and reconnect with his family.

Furman was born in Cape Town but moved with his parents to the UK at the age of five. He returned to South Africa to join SuperSport in 2015.

His agent Glyn Binkin told Independen­t Media that the coronaviru­s outbreak hasn’t changed Furman’s mind.

“Yes, very much so (he still wants to move back to Europe). Obviously he can only travel when the travel restrictio­ns are over,” Binkin explained.

The pandemic has been particular­ly deadly in European countries in the past four weeks. Close to 100 000 cases of the coronaviru­s have been recorded in the UK thus far. The number of deaths has passed 12 000.

But that hasn’t deterred the Bafana midfielder, who has plans to become a family man from next season.

The midfield workhorse is eager to start a family with his wife in Britain. It not known at this stage whether there is a club that will sign him in the UK but SuperSport are already preparing for life without their influentia­l captain.

The player they call “Mlungu” has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell in his stint with the Pretoria-based outfit. He has won two Nedbank Cup crowns and an MTN8 urn.

In 2017, his SuperSport succumbed to TP Mazembe in the final of the CAF Confederat­ion Cup.

His performanc­es led to his elevation to captain of Matsatsant­sa. The indefatiga­ble Furman has led with distinctio­n and honour. He has given his best for the club.

“At this stage we are still focused on him moving back to Europe but he’s got a contract with SuperSport until June 30,” Binkin stated.

The thought of retirement is far from the mind of Furman. In as much as he wants to go back to Europe, the passion for the beautiful game is still there.

His next move is yet to be revealed and the coronaviru­s has disrupted the plot for his next destinatio­n.

“Yes, correct (it has delayed potential talks or negotiatio­ns for his next move). A lot of clubs in Europe don’t know where they are going to be because of this pandemic. No-one knows how long this thing is going to take. Maybe it is going to go beyond what is expected, we are not sure. At this stage we really don’t know,” Binkin elaborated.

The Premier Soccer League season has been suspended because due to pandemic that is hurting the whole the world.

South Africa is still on a national lockdown until the end of April. It is not yet clear when the football action is likely to resume.

But Furman is clear about what he wants for his future.

 ??  ?? Aphelele Fassi Jaco Coetzee Ox Nche Sikhumbuzo Notshe Joseph Dweba
Aphelele Fassi Jaco Coetzee Ox Nche Sikhumbuzo Notshe Joseph Dweba
 ??  ?? Dean Furman
Dean Furman

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