On what was deemed a ”champagne occasion”, Bidvest Wits University on Monday launched a new team emblem as well as the arrival of five new players for the coming Premier Soccer League season.
”All five have been training with the squad for some time,” said coach Roger de Sa, ”and will be considered for selection for the opening PSL game against Jomo Cosmos in Tembisa on Wednesday.”
And De Sa, back with the club where he spent close to a decade as a goalkeeper and coach before a two-year spell as coach of Cape Town club Santos, revealed he was ”out to make it a neat half-dozen” — pursuing the signing of Kaizer Chiefs’ transfer-listed striker David Radebe.
In the meantime, new acquisitions who have already bolstered Wits for their ambitious PSL campaign are: returning defender Neil Winstanley, following spells with Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns; Clive Moyo, who had a spell in England with Rochdale; Calvin Sosibo, who joins the club from Maritzburg United; towering former SuperSport and Platinum Stars striker Dale Studzinski; and Tipa Bienvenu, formerly of Bloemfontein Celtic.
”The signing of Radebe is in the balance,” said De Sa. ””We have confidence he could make a big impact at Wits and we believe it would serve his career best to join the club. But at this stage there is no agreement with Chiefs over a transfer fee.”
It is believed Wits have made a ceiling offer of R500 000 for Radebe, while Chiefs are holding out for a fee of R600 000.
In addition, several other clubs, including Moroka Swallows, have also shown an interest in the quicksilver striker, who regularly flattered only to deceive while playing for Chiefs, but is still considered as potentially a player with a future at the age of 27. — Sapa