Downs’ urgency on Sibisi cools down

With the end of the season fast approaching, Mamelodi Sundowns are already assessing their transfer options as they aim to continue to boss the transfer window.

As such, the Siya crew has been informed that Nkosinathi Sibisi is still on their radar, though the urgency has somewhat cooled down.

It has been reaffirmed that Downs have been tracking the highly-rated 26-year-old for some time now, though the Brazilians aren’t as eager to sign the defender as they were seven months ago.

Soccer Laduma reported back in August that Sibisi had been identified as a potential replacement for Ricardo Nascimento, who, at the time, had been injured and faced the possibility of not returning to Mzansi to continue playing for Downs.

Indications were that Sundowns had even gone as far as agreeing a deal in principle with Sibisi’s club, Golden Arrows, to have the player join them in case Nascimento did not recover in time to be registered on August 31.

Orlando Pirates were also in the mix, and the Siya crew reported recently that the Buccaneers could look at swapping Mthokozisi Dube, who is on loan at Arrows, for the Bafana Bafana defender and team captain.

According to Siya sources, Sibisi is a player of interest for Downs and could still be an ideal replacement for Nascimento, who was eventually offloaded in January to make room for a foreign spot after the signing of Erwin Saavedra.

But for now, it’s understood they are in no hurry, especially with Rushine De Reuck, Grant Kekana, Brian Onyango, Devine Lunga and Mosa Lebusa being more than enough cover and quite versatile too.

Sibisi is, however, growing in stature, is in the Bafana Bafana squad for their European trip next week and could have two of SA’s Big Three chasing his signature come July 1 when the transfer window officially opens again.