So what’s the 411 on PSL transfers?
WITH the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season rapidly approaching, it’s expected there will be quite a bit of activity in the transfer market over the next week or two. Not that the 16 top-flight clubs haven’t already been busy. They have…
The football season kicks off early next week with the start of the MTN8 Cup competition and, a few days later, the league campaign gets under way. And there will be a number of new faces at the clubs when the PSL swings into action.
But the big question still hovers around the future of Itumeleng Khune. The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and midfield teammate Mandla Masango were left clubless after Kaizer Chiefs had had enough of their exorbitant financial demands.
Big-spending Mamelodi Sundowns flirted briefly with the idea of signing Khune, but they, too, were scared off by his rumoured salary package, said to be close to R8-million a year.
As it stands, Khune is a difficult sell if he wants to go overseas. He is already 28-years old, is not all that well-known in the European market and, having been injured for quite last year, he hasn’t played all that many games in recent times. The PSL is probably his best bet, where he is a cult figure among local fans.
The latest news is that Khune is expected to meet with Chiefs sometime this week, with a view to returning to the club. But, if it does happen, it will no doubt be on the Soweto club’s salary terms.
Ajax Cape Town, meanwhile, have added five new players who they believe will add quality to the squad this season, and they are expected to bring in two or three more before the transfer window closes.
Midfielders Ruzaigh Gamildien and Ndiviwe Mdabuka, SA under-20 defender Marcelo Mendes and strikers Prince Nxumalo and Thomas Chideu are the confirmed signings – and four of them saw some game time during the recentlycompleted Cape Town Cup.
Chideu is still to arrive because the Parow-based club is awaiting his work permit. The paper work has been done and they are patiently waiting on the Department of Home Affairs to give the go-ahead for the Zimbabwean to link up with his new club. Ajax coach Roger de Sa has made no secret of the fact that he rates the striker.
Mdabuka was particularly impressive at the Cape Town Cup. Signed from neighbours Vasco da Gama, the combative, industrious defensive mid- fielder brings much-needed solidity to the team’s axis, allowing the creative sparks to flourish out wide.
Ajax are also confident of completing the signing of Rheece Evans from Sundowns.
Two interesting Mother City moves to watch this season are striker Amigo Memela to Orlando Pirates and midfielder Nazier Jacobs to Polokwane City.
Memela was the goalscoring for Cape Town All Stars last season, while Jacobs was, for a long time, the heartbeat of Milano United’s promotion charge. Both players now have an opportunity to test their talent and ability at a higher level.
These are transfers already completed at the PSL clubs: AJAX CAPE TOWN: Thomas Chideu (signed from Highlanders, Zimbabwe), Marcelo Mendes (from Wits), Ndiviwe Mdabuka (from Vasco Da Gama), Ruzaigh Gamildien (from Milano United), Prince Nxumalo (from SuperSport United) KAIZER CHIEFS: Daniel Cardoso (Free State Stars), Keegan Ritchie (Bloemfontein Celtic), Siyanda Xulu (FC Rostov, Russia), Bongani Ndulula (AmaZulu), Sula Matovu (BK Hacken, Sweden) ORLANDO PIRATES: Amigo Memela (Cape Town All Stars), Thembinkosi Lorch (Maluti FET College), Roger Majafa (Polokwane City), Gift Motupa (Baroka FC), Felipe Ovono (Deportivo Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea), Tendai Ndoro (Mpumalanga Black Aces) MAMELODI SUNDOWNS: Fiston Abdul Razak (Sofapaka, Kenya), Keagan Dolly (Ajax Cape Town), Mogakolodi Ngele (Platinum Stars) WITS: Daine Klate (Orlando Pirates), Elias Pelembe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nazeer Allie (Ajax Cape Town), Keaghan Jacobs (Livingston, Scotland), Gerald Phiri Junior (Caps United, Zimbabwe), Kris Bright (Bharat FC, India) POLOKWANE CITY: Nazier Jacobs (Milano United), Punch Masenamela (Platinum Stars), Randy Ngobe (Witbank Spurs), Sibusiso Mbonani (Witbank Spurs) SUPERSPORT UNITED: Grant Kekana (University of Pretoria), Phumelele Bhengu (Thanda Royal Zulu), Michael Boxall (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand), Isaka Cernak (Central Coast Mariners, Australia) BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC: Geoffrey Massa (University of Pretoria), Helder Pelembe, Mthokozisi Dube (both Orlando Pirates), Lantshene Phalane, Vuyisile Wana (both Moroka Swallows), Thabang Matuka (Maritzburg United)
CHIPPA UNITED: Mark Mayambela (Royal Eagles), Philani Shange, Nkosinathi Mthiyane (both Amazulu), Rhulani Manzini (Platinum Stars), Diamond Thopola (Thanda Royal Zulu), Simphiwe Ndzimbovu (Maritzburg City), Hlabane Kutumela, Kuduku Maleasenya (both Baroka FC), Lerato Manzini (Bloemfontein Celtic), Sandile Zuke (Wits), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves, Nigeria), Mazwi Mncube (Thanda Royal Zulu) FREE STATE STARS: Joseph Mhlongo (FC Cape Town), Cebo Masena (Milano United), Sifiso Mbhele (Polokwane City), Sinethemba Jantjie (Mbombela United), Mrisho Ngassa (Young Africans, Tanzania), Lucky Mohomi (Garankuwa United), Lindokuhle Nkambule (Witbank Spurs), Inmawell Shelembe (Natal United), Liberty Chakoroma (Buffalos FC, Zimbabwe)
GOLDEN ARROWS: Philani Zikalala (Orlando Pirates), Velile Zitha (Thanda Royal Zulu), Edgar Manaka (Platinum Stars)
JOMO COSMOS: Michael Gumede (Thanda Royal Zulu), Uhuru Seleman (Simba FC, Tanzania), Conrad Madolo (Garankuwa United), Mohammad Sulumba (Blantyre United, Malawi), Miciam Mhone (Blue Eagles, Malawi), Sibusiso Mdamba (African Warriors), Pako Mahaabo (Maluti FET College), Mxolisi Macuphu (Royal Eagles)
MARITZBURG UNITED: Manti Moholo (Chippa United)
MPUMALANGA BLACK ACES: ShuAib Walters (Maritzburg United), Aubrey Ngoma (Orlando Pirates), Mpho Matsi, Siyabonga Ngubane (both University of Pretoria), Limbikani Mzava (Bloemfontein Celtic)
PLATINUM STARS: Mbongeni Mzimela, Siyabonga Zulu (both Chippa United), Siboniso Gumede (Wits), Khulekani Madondo (AmaZulu) UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA: Thabiso Nkoana (Ajax Cape Town), Lennox Bacela (Orlando Pirates), Sphamandla Dlamini (Mpumalanga Province), Vukile Mngqibisa, Kabelo Lichaba (both Polokwane City), Willem Mwedihanga (AmaZulu), Harry Edge (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands)