Sundowns to revisit transfer policy
LOG leaders Mamelodi Sundowns could revise their transfer policy after a technical committee meeting to address the high number of loaned-out players returning in June.
The meeting, which will include coach Pitso Mosimane, director of football Mike Ntombela, chief scout Trott Moloto and members of the youth academy, has been tentatively set for around May 12.
About 25 players — the list grows if those in the lower divisions are counted — were allowed to leave the club to get game time elsewhere during the 2013-14 campaign, but they are due back, forcing the club to be proactive.
Sundowns exceeded their foreign quota of five players this season but have added more non-South African players to their books for next season, which kicks off in August.
Ntombela, in his first year as the director of football, dismissed reports that their wage bill on loanees could easily hit the R40-million mark and that they cheated the system to secure permanent residence status for their Dutch skipper, Alje Schut, and Belgian goalie Glenn Verbauwhede.
“We have not broken any laws at Sundowns because we have done everything by the book,” he said.
‘‘I am sure the PSL would have charged us by now if we did. Yes, we have a lot of players out on loan, but we are mindful of the fact that we have to plan for the next season, hence the meeting after our final game of the season with the coach and the rest of the technical staff.”
An insider said the Brazilians were not keen on retaining all returning players and singled out striker Eleazar Rodgers (at Ajax CT) and defenders Emmanuel Mathias and Hichani Himoonde (both at Zambia’s Zesco United) as likely surplus to requirements. Others, among them Musa Nyatama at Bloemfontein Celtic, could be sold or moved instead of making their current clubs their permanent homes.
Sundowns have AmaTuks captain Buhle Mkhwanazi on their radar despite selling him to their crosstown rivals to increase their chances of luring Bongani Zungu away last year.
The list of high profile loanees includes: Richard Henyekane, Nyasha Mushekwi, Zwane, Kwanda Mngonyama, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Edward Manqele, Raymond Monama, Doctor Mampuru, Abel Mabaso, Dennis Onyango and Wandisile Letlabika.
“We receive reports every week regarding these players and we know their progress. This will make it easy for the coach to select who should come and who should go,” said Ntombela.
Mosimane, on the verge of guiding Sundowns to their first league title since 2007, said he could change his recruitment policy, which saw him bring in 16 new players this season.