Dube signs long-term Pirates contract

Siya sources have confirmed to the Siya crew that Orlando Pirates right back Mthokozisi Dube has committed his future to the club over a long term.

Dube was promoted from the Buccaneers youth development programme in 2013, but found it tough to immediately break into the starting line-up of then coach Roger de Sa and was loaned out to Sivutsa Stars in the second tier.

Premier Soccer League is to make match officials professional.

“I have been leading in these discussions for a long time with other coaches following that professionalization must come in where everybody is prepared and has a clear target like we do as coaches and players.”

Chiefs are flying high in the PSL at present and find themselves top of the Absa Premiership table and into the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout following their recent penalty shootout victory over arch-nemesis Orlando Pirates.

Downs to extend Mweene spell

Kennedy Mweene has confirmed that he is a long way from hanging up his gloves, though his biggest battle remains going up against another veteran goalkeeper, in his Mamelodi Sundowns teammate, Denis Onyango.

Even when he did return to Pirates, the young defender was deemed not ready and went out on another loan spell, this time joining Bloemfontein Celtic over two seasons to grow and find his feet in the topflight.

It was during the 2017/18 season that Dube established himself as a regular first team player, with another new coach in Micho Sredojevic seeing him as the player

The Siya crew has had it confirmed that the Brazilians don’t have plans to ditch the Zambian goal minder either, extending his contract until June next year with an option to renew it for a further two years. And indications are that the option will be exercised.

Mweene opened up about his desire to keep playing recently, and did get a few minutes on the pitch while Onyango was away for a family bereavement.

“For as long as my body can allow me, I will keep playing. I am not thinking of retiring soon. I just want to make my own history. I am the only goalkeeper in the Zambian national team who has gone beyond 110 games and I want to keep doing this in the PSL – for me, age is just a number.

“As long as you look after yourself, you can go even beyond 39 or 40 and that is what I am looking at. I can’t to solve their problematic right back position.

Siya sources have confirmed to the crew that the 27-year-old has recently put pen to paper on a long-term contract. According to information made available to the crew, Dube, who missed the club’s opening eight Absa Premiership matches due to injury, could be a Pirates player until June 2023. say I will retire at Sundowns or anywhere else, but I don’t know where I will retire,” the 34-yearold said.

But he will have to up his game, however, with the club having already signed a young goalkeeper for next season, in Jody February.

End of the road for Molangoane at Chiefs?

Ernst Middendorp’s concerns over the fitness of Kaizer Chiefs winger Joseph Molangoane last month appear to be a lot deeper than what the coach revealed to journalists when giving an update on the player’s recovery.

Word reaching the Siya crew is that the former Orlando Pirates, Chippa United and Platinum Stars talisman could very well be forced to retire early due to his horrific leg break, which forced him to make just two appearances last season, giving the doctors very little hope that he would be able to return to his best.

Middendorp alluded to this fact when he told reporters, in part, “We have to be very clear structured, there are too many irritations in terms of his second broken incident. Basically, at the moment, the very clear message is that currently he is not prepared to play a competitive game. We work on it.

“He is working on it individually – there’s no doubt about it, but let’s be honest – I like this player and I would like to have him in, but if it’s not working and going in a way where he can be competitive, then we can’t use him. That’s the status in the moment.”

The Siya crew had been reliably informed that not long after Molangoane recovered from his initial injury, the 30-year-old was hurt again during training and his recovery regressed as a result.

Molangoane’s contract will expire in June next year, and indications

from sources are that he could very well leave Naturena at the end of this campaign, or before the time, should the two parties agree to an amicable parting of ways before the end of the season.

Letlotlo offered to French outfit

He’s still on the lookout for a new club after leaving Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season, and there are indications that Emmanuel Letlotlo could get a shot at life overseas as he targets a return to the game.

Letlotlo burst onto the scene with his performances in the youth ranks at Naturena prior to his promotion into the Amakhosi first team – however, he had bad luck with injuries and only went on to make just five Absa Premiership appearances prior to his exit.

It was thought that the 23-yearold could be a possible signing for Bloemfontein Celtic earlier this year after he spent a bit of time training at the club and even made the squad for their Macufe Cup win over his former employers earlier in the month. However, nothing has come of it yet.

Now, the latest news reaching the Siya crew is that French Ligue 1 strugglers, Nîmes Olympique, have been made aware of the striker’s situation, with the player’s services being offered to them.

Nîmes are currently battling relegation in the French topflight after a tough start to their 2019/20 season, and the fact that Letlotlo is a free agent means that he is not governed by the transfer window.

Siya sources have revealed that the French outfit have shown an interest in the young forward with regards to a possible training spell, and the Siya crew will keep an eye on the situation to see if things are taken any further.