The sky could be the limit for Mamelodi Sundowns in the new season following their signing of seven new players.
Goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, Josta Dladla, Neil Winstanely, Surprise Moriri, Raymond Seneo, Vuyo Mere and Thabiso Rammile all wore big smiles when club president Patrice Potsepe introduced them to the media at a briefing on Monday.
But the announcement of Baloyi (who has been with Kaizer Chiefs for 13 years), Winstanely, Dladla and Seneo was no longer breaking news.
It was widely reported last month that the four players were waiting for their contracts with their respective clubs to end before Motsepe could make an official announcement that he had signed them.
The surprise package was Moriri, Ramille and Mere. Motsepe said the acquisition of all eight players is part of his long process of building and improving his club.
Motsepe, the mining magnate who has taken local football by storm since buying the majority shares at the Chloorkop-based club, warned that his mission is to turn Sundowns into a jewel of a club.
He was very diplomatic when he announced that Lucky Qaba, Frank Guela, Sandile Ndlovu, Jonas Mavimbela, Mkosinathi Khumalo, Marcus Coetzee and Jonathan Greenfield have been asked to look for greener pastures.
He also made it clear that the contracts of Isaac Shaai, Ishmael Maluleka, Dan Semake, Wendell Robinson, Ronnie Kanalelo and Tumelo Mofokeng have not been renewed for the next season — meaning that they are no longer part of Downs.
Jose Ferreira has been officially appointed the club’s deputy CEO, but troublesome Peter Kotroulis, who has been on the wrong side of the law in the Castle Premiership, will not be part of the technical staff.
”We still looking for a suitable candidate. We are in no hurry. Even the acquisition of all the eight players that you see here today took me a long time, ” said Motsepe, who made it clear that he is still looking for players outside the boarders of South Africa.
However, he said charity begins at home.
”We need to nurture our own and that is where township football comes in.
”We must also make sure that we keep our style of football but instil discipline and professionalism,” he said.
The club offices at Chloorkop could also be part of history as Motsepe revealed that they will be opening offices in Pretoria.
”The only thing that can still be there is our academy,” he said, adding that they will be taking some of their games to Mamelodi and Atteridgeville, where Downs command a huge following.
”That is part of our obligation to the people of Pretoria.”
He further revealed that players who are in the Sundowns development academy will be sent overseas where their skills will be nurtured by top coaches in ”some of the best clubs in the world” with whom Motsepe enjoys warm relationships.
”But I am confident that the current squad that we have will play the winning soccer that our fans want,” said Motsepe. ”Our supporters deserve the best.”
He heaped praise on both Dolezar and assistant coach Neil Tovey of whom he said ”they know exactly what to do”. — Sapa