The Big three of South African football (Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs) have been very busy during this break. The three teams have gone on a spending spree to fortify their squads in a quest to make a strong challenge next season.
For Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, the mission is to wrest the DSTV Premiership title from Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians have won the title four times in a row, making this mission a bit of an obsession.
Sundowns have boosted their attack, going as far as Europe to bring in a striker. They signed Slovakian international Pavel Safranko, but Chiefs and Pirates have opted to operate within the local market.
While it is difficult to say who has made the better signings before the season kicks off, one man has been bold in making his revelations. The three teams have made a combined 16 signings, and former Pirates striker Andries Sebola believes that Chiefs have been the best in the transfer market.
“The only person I’m not familiar with there is Safranko. I hear he is a goal poacher, let’s give him time,” he said.
“But as for the likes of Grant [Kekana] and all those other ones, I don’t think Sundowns needed to sign those players because, on those positions, they’ve got almost two players already.”
The Bucs raided Baroka Fc for former Premiership Young Player of the Season Goodman Mosele, then poached Kwanda Mngonyama and Bandile Shandu from Maritzburg United as well Monnapule Saleng from GladAfrica Championship side Free State Stars.
“Mngonyama was not a regular where he is coming from, but maybe he’s going to be a replacement for Hlatshwayo or [Happy] Jele because Pirates were faulty at the back,” Sebola continues.
“Mosele? Yes, good signing from Baroka. He will help Pirates because, at times, when you sign a big player, he doesn’t perform, but when you sign a young player, they tend to rise to the occasion.”
Sifiso Hlanti, Brandon Petersen, Phathutshedzo Nange, Njabulo Ngcobo, Sibusiso Mabiliso, Kgaogelo Sekgota and Austin Dube were all signed by the Amakhosi, while Given Thibedi returned from loan.
“Good signings, all of them. More especially Hlanti and Phathusedzo Nange in the middle and the goalkeeper [Petersen] as well,” he says.
“We know they’ve got problems in their goalkeeping department… Petersen never played the whole season, but with goalkeepers, it doesn’t take long to gain back match fitness.
“So, it’s time for the likes of Khune to make way for younger stars because you could see they were conceding unnecessary goals. I think Chiefs has signed better.”