/ 4 October 2002

Mthembu leaves Chiefs, joins Sundowns

Kaizer Chiefs winger Marco Mthembu has surprisingly quit the Naturena-based side club to link up with arch-rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mthembu’s contract with Chiefs expired at the end of last season. He joined the club two seasons ago from the United States where he had been furthering his studies.

The pocket-size Mthembu was a regular at Chiefs, helping them to win various competitions like the Confederation of African Football Caf Cup Winners Cup (Mandela Cup) and the Coca-Cola Cup last season.

He is likely to make his debut for The Brazilians when they entertain Ajax Cape Town in a Coca-Cola Cup game at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.

Mthembu is reported to have left Amakhosi after failing to agree on terms with the club’s management for a new contract. His move to his new club comes a few days after Fabian McCarthy left Sundowns.

McCarthy, the former Under-23 international and Bafana Bafana defender whose contract with Sundowns expired, is now linked to Chiefs.

The departure of Mthembu is likely to be a blessing in disguise for Buti Sithole, a young gifted winger who was recently promoted by Chiefs after impressive in the juniors.

Sithole is also a regular player at the Amajita, the South African Under-20 national who are now involved in the 2003 African Youth Championships qualifiers. – Sapa