Sundowns unveil 10 new signings

Published Jul 9, 2008

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Johannesburg - In a frantic atmosphere not unlike the charging of the bulls through the streets of Pamplona, big-spending Mamelodi Sundowns were distinctly bullish on Wednesday as they unveiled their 10 new signings for the forthcoming PSL season.

Also at the function held at one of Johannesburg chic hotels, with the media forced to flee for their seats in the face of a wild stampede from enthusiastic club supporters, Nike were proclaimed as the technical sponsors of the club known as The Brazilians on what will be a four-year partnership.

With typical bravado, affluence and unshakeable optimism, billionaire club owner and president Patrice Motsepe reiterated the intentions of the PSL's most successful club to acquire a similar status in Africa following the signing of new stars like Bafana Bafana's foraging Sibusiso Zuma, striker Katlego Mphela and defender Siboniso Gaxa from SuperSport United, Santos ball-wizard Thando Mngomeni and Platinum Stars midfielder Koketso Mmotong.

Completing the double-figures influx of 10 new players are Thembelethu Moses, Sydney Plaatjies, Kurt Lentjies, Dario Monterio and Derrick Spencer.

Although the five-times PSL League champions won both the SAA Supa8 Cup and the Nedbank Cup last season and were finalists in the Telkom Cup, Motsepe made it clear that regaining the Premier League title was the club's immediate and urgent objective - with success in Caf's continental tournaments the next objective.

Also at the function was Sundowns new technical director and former club and Bafana coach Ted Dumitru, whom Motsepe said had been brought into The Brazilians' fold to stabilise the coaching set-up and bring about a degree of continuity in this sphere.

"This will be a key area in which we hope to move up a step in our evolving progress," said the Sundowns president.

Asked by one media personality whether he was back at Sundowns to "eventually take over the position of head coach from incumbent Trott Moloto", Dumitru replied forcibly: "I'm here as the technical director and the technical director only."

However, while Motsepe expressed his gratitude to Moloto and his coaching staff for turning the Sundowns' team around after an early-season decline, the president also introduced an ominous element by declaring: "Now Trott's future is in his own hands." - Sapa

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