New signing Mzwakali wants to impress for Chippa
Liverpool deny price cut claim for Coutinho
THE Chilli Boys have been making the most of the Absa Premiership transfer window and have now bagged their fifth signing in a bid to strengthen their midfield.
Chippa announced the signing of Ajax Cape Town’s attacking midfielder Bantu Mzwakali (24) on a three-and-a-half-year deal via social media on Monday evening.
Mzwakali has been handed jersey number 19 and will be introduced to Chippa United supporters at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow.
The deal will see the dynamic Samuel Julies heading in the opposite direction to join the Urban Warriors with immediate effect.
“I am delighted to announce the arrival of Bantu Mzwakali,” Chippa chairman Siviwe Mpengesi said.
“He is a player who has shown a lot of potential over the years and we are certain that he will strengthen our arsenal.”
Julies showed glimpses of brilliance in the first half of the season in his eight appearances for the Chilli Boys. He displayed skill in the attacking midfield position, bagging three goals.
Despite having been one of the most influential players in the squad, Julies was not able to secure a regular spot in the starting line-up.
Mzwakali came through the ranks of the Urban Warriors before getting promoted to the first team in 2013, and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club.
The 24-year-old, who will start training with the squad today, expressed his excitement in signing with the Chilli Boys. The Gugulethu-born midfielder has also featured in the national U20 side.
“It has always been my ambition growing up in Cape Town to play in the blue and white of Chippa United,” Mzwakali said. “I am over the moon to finally be here. I am ready to play straightaway, but I know that I have to fight and show the coach on the training ground that I am ready to be part of the team.
“I am looking forward to meeting my new teammates and of course delivering for the club.” he said.
Meanwhile, the club has also announced the release of vicecaptain Sandile Zuke, who has joined Golden Arrows.
“I would like to thank Sandile Zuke for the contribution he has made to the development of the Chippa United team since his arrival,” Mpengesi said.
“Julies has made a notable contribution in a short space of time as well,” he said. LIVERPOOL have rubbished Barcelona’s claim the Merseyside club sold Philippe Coutinho for a “reduced” fee as the £142-million (about R2.4-billion) signing was finally unveiled at the Nou Camp.
Having won the fight for his signature, Barcelona sought to gain another political victory by stating they paid less than they were quoted for the Brazilian last summer. Liverpool sources familiar with the negotiations are adamant that is not the case as no price was ever proposed by the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group.
Barca’s suggestion does not tally with the Merseyside club’s firm position that there was no fee which would have forced the 25-year-old’s sale last summer.
Liverpool would not entertain negotiations with the Catalan club until recently, a position they made clear in a club statement last August.
Negotiations over a fee were only concluded shortly before Coutinho’s exit, with the player himself making a financial contribution of £11.5-million (R192-million) to ensure the valuation was met.
However, the money was raised, and Liverpool’s asking price of £160-million (R2.7-billion) was agreed upon.
That did not prevent Barcelona’s vice-president Jordi Mestre suggesting that his club had managed to haggle successfully.
“The club has always been interested in signing Coutinho, the difference to last summer is that there was a big cut in price,” Mestre said. “We won’t state the numbers because Liverpool don’t want us to, but there was a big price cut.”
Having made the contentious – and in Liverpool’s view inaccurate – remark, Barcelona chose not to elaborate. Liverpool’s position was consistent, as demonstrated in statement four months ago.
“The club’s definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer window closes,” it said.
“From a financial standpoint there is no price limit to let him go. A price at which we are ready to give in.
“Our goal is to have the best possible team, so we want to keep our guys and add new ones. That is our plan.
“Liverpool is not a club that has to sell players. That is set in stone.”
Liverpool wanted to stand firm this month, too, but eventually relented under pressure from the player, his representatives, Barcelona and even their sponsors – sportswear giants Nike – who announced the deal prematurely at the start of the month.
Nike’s promotion of a Coutinho Barcelona jersey was never explained by the company. They also have a deal with the player.
Barcelona’s politicking is in keeping with a familiar trend in Spanish football, where elected board members seek to lobby for popular support when basking in the glow of a transfer coup.
Coutinho said he was fulfilling a dream by moving to the Nou Camp, where he signed a five-and-a-half-year deal, revealing how his former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez was constantly urging him to make the move.
Suarez left Anfield for Barcelona in 2014 for £65-million (R1.1-billion).
“Luis is a great player, I played with him at Liverpool and I am really happy to play with him again,” said Coutinho, who was handed the number 14 shirt.
It is expected he will replace Andres Iniesta. — Daily Telegraph their