Johannesburg - Sibusiso Vilakazi is finally a Mamelodi Sundowns player following months of speculation over the future of the Bafana Bafana midfielder, it was announced by his former club Bidvest Wits on Sunday.
The Clever Boys did not completely lose out, Wits having recruited the Sundowns duo of playmaker Mogakolodi Ngele and striker Cuthbert Malajila as part of the deal.
This all seemed to move quite quickly when Ngele told Sundowns - through his agent Tim Sukazi two weeks ago - that he wished to be sold or loaned out in search of more game time after just 14 appearances in the domestic league.
Wits were desperately trying to hold on to Vilakazi for another season with an eye on clinching the Absa Premiership title. in the upcoming season.
The player was crowned Footballer of the Season in 2014, but has been blowing hot and cold since, partly because of his uncertain future at the club.
On Sunday, Wits announced that Vilakazi would be joining Sundowns for an “undisclosed fee”, with Ngele and Malajila going the other way.
Downs have beaten rivals Kaizer Chiefs to Vilakazi’s signature, and there is obviously big money involved, which included the two players also going to Braamfontein.
It has been widely speculated that Vilakazi was too expensive for Amakhosi at a minimum price tag of R10 million.
Sundowns, who have been chasing the player for two seasons, finally got their man and will likely be the team to beat yet again during the 2016/17 campaign - especially if they are able to hold on to reigning Footballer of the Season Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly.
The Clever Boys also confirmed the arrival of Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet from Belgian side KV Kortrijk, where it seemed he was enjoying his football as the first choice, playing all the league matches and even returning into the Bafana fold during the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
He had, however, been a little unsettled and it was his final year at Kortrijk and it is now clear he decided not to renew. Instead he chose to return to the club that initially sold him to the Belgian outfit in 2011.
Keet had been a bit of a forgotten man following a disappointing 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea when he was dropped by coach Shakes Mashaba after Bafana lost their opening game against Algeria.
The 3-1 scoreline left Keet a bit exposed and he hasn’t been between the sticks for the national team since, although he was called up for the recent 2017 Afcon qualifiers.
Perhaps his return back to the PSL is a way to kick-start his again as an integral part of Bafana’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers. He faces stiff competition from Moeneeb Josephs.
@superjourno
The Star