DURBAN – Mamelodi Sundowns experienced defender Thabo Nthethe and Asavela Mbekile are set to leave the club in June.
This was confirmed by their agent Tim Sukazi of Quality Talent Sports when he conducted an interview with Independent Media while attending an Absa Premiership clash between Orlando Pirates and Lamontville Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu this past weekend.
Nthethe and Mbekile have struggled for game time this season. Sundowns coach Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane has been preferring Ricardo Nascimeto and Wayne Arendse at the heart of defence in the last few matches.
Nascimento has also partnered Bangaly Soumahoro and Motjeka Madisha.
“Sundowns had an option (to renew Nthethe's contract). The date for the option of his contract has passed and Sundowns haven't said anything. He is not playing and he will leave. Both of them will leave (Nthethe and Mbekile),” Sukazi stated.
Nthethe joined Sundowns in 2014. During his time with Sundowns Nthethe has won the Caf Champions League, Caf Super Cup, Absa Premiership and the Telkom Knockout.
Meanwhile, Sukazi also confirmed that Khuzwayo is leaving Kaizer Chiefs at the end of the season.
“The fact of the matter here is that Khuzwayo is not playing, he is not playing at all. This means he is not going to feature in any of Kaizer Chiefs matches. He is not playing even in the Nedbank Cup. Clearly the player wants game time in very positive and competitive way. He want to leave and he is going to leave. He has to go,” Sukazi stated.
Khuzwayo joined Chiefs in 2012 from AmaZulu. He made his name when he produced a man of the match performance against Orlando Pirates in the final of the MTN 8 in 2015 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban when Amakhosi triumph.
“At his age he needs to play. So we will search for his new home and I have no doubt that we will find it. Pirates has never shown any interest in Khuzwayo. No one from Pirates has ever got hold of us regarding the services of Khuzwayo. Cape Town City did contact us but we put them on hold but we will see now how talks pends out when the season ends,” Sukazi elaborated.
Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City have been heavily linked with Khuzwayo and Sukazi explained the situation of the two teams.
“Pirates do have the right to get hold of me regarding Khuzwayo but they are still quite. They are quite maybe they don't see the need to have him in their team, I don't know. I won't talk for Pirates if they are not saying anything,” Sukazi concluded.