Preparations for the competition phase are in full swing as Premier Soccer League teams return to their bases to plot for the upcoming 2023-24 DStv Premiership season.
Champions Mamelodi Sundowns will travel to Holland to play against top flight Dutch sides — Sparta Rotterdam (July 23), NAC Breda (July 26) and Go Ahead Eagles (July 28) — to ready themselves for the defence of their title and the Caf Champions League.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena told the Sunday Times the Brazilians will exchange friendly fire with four teams in the Netherlands, though the name of the fourth side is yet to be confirmed. “We are going to play against three first division teams in Holland, including NAC Breda. There is one more team that is still to be confirmed,” he said.
The coach added that the Brazilians will not replace departed first assistant coach Steve Komphela, who has joined Swallows FC. “We will not replace coach Komphela at the moment. Coaches Wendell [Robinson] and coach Manqoba (Mngqithi) and Michael Loftman will continue in their roles. We’ve had a lot of contacts and CVs, even from colleagues, even from abroad, but no decision has been taken yet on what to do with Komphela’s position.”
Sundowns have not been their usual aggressive selves in the market. They have signed Brazilian midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Lesiba Nku and Junior Mendieta. “Erwin Saavedra (Bolivia) is leaving. Surprise Ralani and Lesedi Kapinga have already left,” said Mokwena.
Costa, who played for SK Beveren in Belgium last season, is the third Sundowns signing after Mendieta joined from Stellenbosch FC and Nku from relegated Marumo Gallants. Masandawana will also make a decision on their 22-year-old Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro, who impressed while on loan at Chippa United last season.
AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu wants his club to assume the status of a serious competitor rather than being an also-ran. By bringing an international coach in Pablo Franco Martin, Zungu is sending a message that Usuthu are a big club in pursuit of a place at football’s top table.
Little is known of Martin, a former assistant coach of Real Madrid between July and November in 2018. He served at the hallowed Santiago Bernabeu arena as an assistant during the ill-fated spell of Julen Lopetegui, which began with a 4-2 Uefa Super Cup penalty shootout defeat to Atletico Madrid in August and ended with a 5-1 trashing by Barcelona in October.
To match his lofty ambition of seeing AmaZulu winning the league and becoming a regular top-four club, Zungu must supplement his investment with intent to sign top-class players who will compete to raise the club’s stature and appeal to younger football fans.
Martin is Zungu’s fifth coach after Ayanda Dlamini, Romain Folz, Brandon Truter and Benni McCarthy. It remains to be seen if he will allow Martin to go for the long haul.
Komphela is using the lay-off to get the Dube Birds in the groove. “There is still a lot of work to be done. Quite a few acquisitions will come in,” he said this week after his surprise move from Sundowns.
“We must set up structures to support the players with tools that can enhance their abilities and firm up crucial fundamentals. Our ambition is to take Swallows to a top-four position. The season is going to be interesting.”
Komphela must add strong reinforcements to a Swallows side that struggled in the relegation zone for much of last season, before a spirited run by caretaker coach Musa Nyatama lifted them to an eighth-place finish.
Thabiso Kutumela, Lesedi Kapinga, Lebohang Maboe, Bradley Ralani and Gift Motupa hardly saw action at Komphela’s previous employers. Swallows have already added Lantshene Phalane from Royal AM, Daweron Van Rhyn from Upington United and Keenan Phillips from SuperSport United, while Bongani Sam and Tshegofatso Mabasa from Orlando Pirates are also set to join.
Like Sundowns, Pirates are taking their qualification for the Champions League seriously, and are heading to Spain today for a nine-day camp in the homeland of head coach Jose Riveiro.
The Buccaneers have bolstered their squad with Sephelo Baloni, Katlego Otladisa, Melusi Buthelezi and Patrick Maswanganyi, while Vincent Pule, Richard Ofori, Thabang Monare, Siyabonga Mpontshane and Ben Motswari have all had their contracts extended.
It doesn’t look like Zimbabwean international attacker Khama Billiat will be part of Kaizer Chiefs next season after "disappearing" this week when Amakhosi were ready to offer him a new contract. Billiat is not part of the squad that left for pre-season training in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, this week with new coach Molefi Ntseki.
Chiefs announced attacking winger Tebogo Potsane from Royal AM as their seventh signing this off-season while revealing they've not seen Billiat at training this week.
Former Zimbabwean international Kaitano Tembo emerged as new coach at Richards Bay, where Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi was vigorously courted. Tembo was announced on Thursday.
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