JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyanda “Magazi” Xulu will be unveiled as a Maritzburg United player on Thursday.
Independent Media can confirm that the KwaMashu-born defender, who previously played for Mamelodi Sundowns, as well will be announced as the club’s signing after he penned a three-year deal with the Team of Choice.
“Xulu has signed a three contract with Maritzburg United. He had three offers from South African teams and one from Atletico de Kolkata of India. Cape Town City were also on the radar but took their time to make an offer. The player will be closer to home since he is back in KZN,” said a source close to the deal.
Xulu (25) joined Chiefs amidst much fanfare given his big reputation as a star defender with European experience. He had spent three years in Europe where he was playing for FC Rostov in Russia. Apart from playing for Rostov he has also attracted the attention of Barcelona and Arsenal where he was invited for trials.
Amakhosi signed Xulu on a five-year contract after they parted ways with their talismanic captain and defender Tefu Mashamaite who left the club to join Swede side FC Hacken having helped Amakhosi to the championship.
But any thoughts Xulu would fill Mashamaite’s shoes were soon dispelled as the defender struggled to win Steve Komphela over.
The coach instead preferred the pair of Eric Mathoho and Lorenzo Gordinho. And when either of them was suspended or injured, it was Daniel Cardoso who got the nod, Xulu finding himself out in the cold and often in the stands.
A post shared by Siyanda "MGZ" Xulu (@mgz05) on Jul 20, 2017 at 1:31am PDT
Murmurs of a rift between player and coach did not help matters and the writing was on the wall that Xulu’s tenure at Naturena would soon be over.
Maritzburg have a press conference on Thursday at which they will reveal their new players and Xulu is set to be their marquee signing.