Bafana coach Gordon Igesund makes the final preparations with his team before they meet Mozambique.
During the last four transfer-window periods, Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United stood out as the biggest spenders on acquiring new players, having signed a total of 47 players between them.
The spending spree in Pretoria had seen Sundowns sign 26 players over 18 months, while United roped in 21 during the same period.
Matsatsantsa’s splurge began at the start of last season when Cavin Johnson was appointed to replace long serving coach Gavin Hunt.
An entirely new team was constructed with the shrewd pre-season signings of Thuso Phala, Dino Ndlovu, Thato Mokeke, David Mathebula and Bennett Chenene before they were snapped-up by other clubs.
With a new-look team playing an attacking brand of football, United finished a disappointing fifth place last season.
At the beginning of this season, they further bolstered their squad with Clayton Daniels, Michael Morton and Dove Wome among others.
During the recent January transfer widow, United made an audacious swoop for Kingston Nkhatha from powerhouse Kaizer Chiefs. United snatched the Zimbabwean striker on a pre-season contract but would go on to successfully negotiate with Amakhosi for an immediate transfer.
The club also brought back winger Daine Klate for his second stint after spending four years at Orlando Pirates. In addition they signed Ayabulela Magqwaka from Ajax Cape Town, Mothusi Gopane from Polokwane City and Luvolwethu Mpeta from Platinum Stars.
Coach Gordon Igesund also looked to the overseas market to sign New Zealand international striker Jeremy Brockie from Wellington Phoenix.
The perennial big spenders, Sundowns, meanwhile, had been fairly quiet during the transfer window which closed on Friday. However, since coach Pitso Mosimane’s first full season in charge, he had already bought the equivalent of two full-strength starting line-ups.
With the exception of club stalwarts Surprise Moriri, Esrom Nyandoro, Teko Modise, Elias Pelembe and Anthony Laffor, the rest of the team was relatively new.
Mosimane, at the start of last season, splashed his cash on Bongani Zungu, Kennedy Mweene, Khama Billiat, Katlego Mashego, Thabo Nthethe and Cuthbert Malajila to name a few, and Sundowns went on to clinch the Premiership title after a seven-year drought.
Some players, however, had short-lived stints at the two clubs and were either released or loaned out.
The Brazilians off-loaded; Bryce Moon, Punch Masenamela, Bongi Ntuli, Luyolo Nomandela and Rashid Sumaila in the recent window, while Matsatsantsa shipped out Ndlovu, Chenene, Lerato Manzini, and Andile Fikizolo.
Both teams have also swapped players with Mame Niang moving from United to Sundowns, and Wome from Sundowns to SuperSport.
Sundowns signings over the last two seasons:
- Rheece Evans
- Mame Niang
- Mario Booysen
- Ejike Uzoenyi
- Kudakwashe Mahachi
- Lindokuhle Mbatha
- Asavela Mbekile
- Kennedy Mweene
- Cuthbert Malajila
- Bryce Moon
- Bongani Zungu
- Raymond Monama
- Tiyani Mabunda
- Rodney Ramagalela
- Glenn Verbauwhede
- Rashid Sumaila
- Khama Billiat
- Emmanuel Mathias
- Mukuka Mulenga
- Katlego Mashego
- Thabo Nthethe
- Mzikayise Mashaba
- Bongani Ntuli
- Keagan Dolly
- Mogakolodi Ngele
- Luyolo Nomandela
SuperSport United signings over the last two seasons:
- Mothusi Gopane
- Luvolwethu Mpeta
- Kingston Nkhatha
- Daine Klate
- Jeremy Brockie
- Ayabulela Magqwaka
- Ryan Chapman
- Thuso Phala
- Clayton Daniels
- David Mathebula
- Bennett Chenene
- Sibusiso Khumalo
- Enocent Mkhabela
- Michael Morton
- Thato Mokeke
- Lebogang Manyama
- Dino Ndlovu
- Tamsanqa Teyise
- Lerato Manzini
- Dove Wome
- Andile Fikizolo. – Sapa