Bucs reject overseas offer for Munetsi

Orlando Pirates appear to have managed to talk defender Marshall Munetsi out of a possible move abroad, the Siya crew has been informed.

Reports in his native country of Zimbabwe linked the Buccaneers centre-back with a switch to Major League Soccer in the United States and the story also gained traction here in Mzansi.

But sources close to the player have now told the crew that Munetsi has agreed to focus on establishing himself as a first team player before he can consider trying his luck overseas. The Buccaneers, along with coach Micho Sredojevic and his technical team, are believed to rate Munetsi highly.

Munetsi, 22, joined Pirates three years ago and was subsequently loaned out to Baroka FC to get game-time in an attempt to develop him further given that the Soweto giants had already viewed him as a bright prospect.

Siya sources revealed that his head was almost turned when the MLS offer was first discussed, but following frank talks with the Pirates management, it is then understood that the player set his sights on first trying to be a regular in coach Sredojevic’s team this season.

Munetsi has a contract with the Buccaneers until 2020, but his resolve – and that of Pirates – could be tested again at the end of the current campaign.

But talk is that the Zimbabwean has agreed to delay his dream of playing abroad for another season.

Baxter, Benni in running for SuperSport job?

Word reaching the Siya crew is that current Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter and his Cape Town City counterpart, Benni McCarthy, are favourites to land the SuperSport United job next t season.

It is no secret that Baxter is not entirely happy as national team coach and recently told the media that he could very well vacate his post after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Libya this month.

And sources have suggested that SuperSport left the door open for his return when he left the club to join Bafana almost two years ago. Kaitano Tembo, who worked as Baxter’s assistant, is the current head coach, but it appears that there are no guarantees that he will stay on even if SuperSport finish inside the Top Eight.

McCarthy is also a candidate, having been linked to the club in the past, and he is a fresh face that SuperSport could target should BaxterBt somehow h decidedid tot stay t on as Bafana coach beyond this month’s crucial AFCON qualifier, or look elsewhere.

With City considered dark horses in the Absa Premiership title race, the 41-year-old McCarthy has obviously caught everyone’s attention. This is only his second season in top-flight football as a coach following his retirement as a player several years ago, and he has already won a trophy in the form of the MTN8.

Expect SuperSport to try and hold out for Baxter, given that he has been at the club before and enjoyed relative success with them after winning two championships in three years while at Kaizer Chiefs, but sources have indicated that McCarthy is also a favourite and could very well be in the running.