Durban Premier Soccer League sides AmaZulu and Lamontville Golden Arrows will enjoy the perfect preparation for the second half of the league campaign in a four-team friendly tournament involving Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Chatsworth Stadium next weekend.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Safety and Security has planned to host a tournament as part of its programme to increase road safety awareness.
Already this season Soweto giants Chiefs have participated in the programme, appearing at several roadshows organised by the department. Coming in the middle of the recess, the tournament will offer the local sides an ideal opportunity to raise their fitness levels, experiment with various tactical plans and test new signings and player combinations.
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"We have accepted the invitation because we were targeting three PSL teams for friendly matches," confirmed AmaZulu team manager James Dlamini. Although the finer details of the tournament were yet to be outlined, Dlamini said it would probably play out with semi-finals on Saturday, and then the final and third place match on Sunday.
AmaZulu face a challenging return to league action when they host defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns on February 11 for a Monday night clash at Umlazi's King Zwelithini Stadium. Arrows will go away to Platinum Stars on February 13 for their opener of the second half of the season.
AmaZulu are likely to feature in the tournament several youngsters promoted from their recently conducted trials, especially after placing four players on transfer, and because some of their regulars are still recuperating from surgery. While strikers Dennis Lota and Simo Dladla, goalkeeper Lawrence Ncala and defender Jethro Mohlala are still on the transfer list, junior international forward Sibusiso Ntuli has been loaned out to First Division side Western Province United. Midfielder Nhlakanipho Mkhize is also earmarked to be loaned out.
Of the players on transfer, Dlamini explained that they would train with the club until the end of this month, which is the final transfer period for the season.
If players like Dladla, whose contract finishes in June, find new employers during this period then they would most likely be allowed to leave with a free clearance. For others, whose contracts expire only in 2009, the club will negotiate a transfer fee with interested buyers.
Dladla, who has seen limited game time since late last season, has been linked to Platinum Stars.
- This article was originally published on page 12 of The Mercury on January 18, 2008
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