Mphela secures move to Chiefs

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 12, Katlego Mphela and George Lebese during the Absa Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs from Loftus Stadium on February 12, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa Photo by Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 12, Katlego Mphela and George Lebese during the Absa Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs from Loftus Stadium on February 12, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa Photo by Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images

Published Feb 1, 2014

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Katlego “Killer” Mphela yesterday secured a last-gasp move to Kaizer Chiefs, on a frenzied transfer deadline day in the Premier Soccer League.

The Mamelodi Sundowns striker has joined Amakhosi on loan from the Brazilians until the end of the season, before his permanent transfer to Naturena in July.

Mphela gives Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter an extra option in attack, with Amakhosi facing a hectic schedule in the next few months, including participation in the African Champions League.

The 29-year-old striker has not started a single game for Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns this season, making just five appearance from the bench, and will hope he can revitalise his career at Amakhosi.

Mpumalanga Black Aces also made a move to loan Mphela from Sundowns, but the Chloorkop club appear to have eventually relented to his desire to move to Chiefs.

If Mphela has got the move he craved for, one striker in limbo at Naturena is Lehlohonolo Majoro, as Chiefs and Pirates did not come to an agreement over his loan move.

“Pirates didn’t come back to us,” said Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung yesterday. “They were supposed to come back to us and tell us if they would take the offer.”

Majoro is reported to have signed a pre-contract with the Buccaneers for next season, but now seems likely to spend the next few months training on his own at Chiefs.

Sundowns, meanwhile, made a major signing of their own yesterday, snapping up Bafana Bafana defender Thabo Nthethe from Bloemfontein Celtic.

“Joining a big team like Sundowns is a dream come true for me, as it is one I always wished could happen for a while now,” Nthethe told the Sundowns website yesterday.

“I’m joining Sundowns because I want to take may career to the next level and I want to achieve more success. This club are going places and I believe I will add to bringing back the glory days.”

Mphela was not the only player that Sundowns sent out on loan yesterday, meanwhile, with midfielder Jabulani Shongwe joining Bidvest Wits until the end of the season, having already signed a pre-contract for next season with the university side.

The Brazilians also agreed a deal with Ajax Cape Town that Thamsanqa Sangweni would go to the Urban Warriors on loan until the end of the season.

SuperSport United were also busy on deadline day, securing the early signing of left-back Thato Mokeke from Ajax, having already snapped him up on a pre-contract for next season.

Matsatsantsa also announced that they have signed AmaZulu central defender Thamsanqa Teyise on a pre-contract for next season.

Elsewhere, Moroka Swallows did some last-minute business, snapping up ex- Santos striker Vuyisile Wana.

“I think a great signing for us, he was hand-picked from a lot of options, and I think he completes the puzzle,” said Swallows coach Zeca Marques yesterday.

Maritzburg United, meanwhile, signed young Bid-vest Wits attacking midfielder Bongolwethu Jayiya on loan until the end of the season. - The Star

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