DURBAN - The transfer window was shuttered on Thursday night but there are still some top Premier Soccer League footballers who can secure positions with new clubs.
The transfer window is usually quiet in South Africa but this has been a busy period.
This window has seen the likes of Oupa Manyisa leaving Orlando Pirates and joining Mamelodi Sundowns. While George Lebese forced his way out of Kaizer Chiefs and joined Abafana Ba Style.
Pirates was another top side who made their presence felt in his transfer window. The Buccaneers scooped the likes of Musa Nyatama from Bloemfontein Celtic, Wayne Sandilands on a free transfer and Thamsanqa Sangweni from Chippa United.
The defending PSL champions Bidvest Wits flexed their muscles in the market. They brought Steven Pienaar, Daylon Classen, Kabelo Kodisang, Puleng Tlhone and Amr Gamal.
Cape Town City also went big, signing Teko Modise and Ayanda Patosi.
Minor sides like Baroka FC surprised many by signing Siphelele Ntshangase from Black Leopards. Ntshangase was on the radar of Chiefs, Sundowns and Pirates.
Lamontville Golden Arrows also caught many in the football fraternity by surprise. They signed Jabulani Shongwe from Wits.
Yet there are still quality players who are searching for new homes. Who would have thought the likes of Collins Mbesuma, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Thanduyise Khuboni, Lebohang Mokoena, Bryce Moon, Patrick Phungwayo and Edward Manqele would be clubless at this time of the season?
The advantage they have is that they can sign for the club of their choice at anytime.
Mbesuma holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in a PSL season.
He achieved that feat in 2004/05 while he was at Kaizer Chiefs. The Zambian International is also the only player to win the PSL Golden Boot twice.
He also possesses an Africa Cup of Nations medal, PSL title medal and is one of only a few players to have played for Chiefs, Pirates, Sundowns and Moroka Swallows.
Mbesuma was relegated with Highlands Park last season and terminated his contract.
Former EPL player Dikgacoi has played in all major International tournaments, from Afcon to Fifa Confederation Cup and the World Cup. He returned to SA in January, having left Cardiff City in June.
He signed a short-term contract with Lamontville Golden Arrows but injuries hampered his progress at the club and they they parted ways at the end of the season.
Another clubless player is Khuboni. He was one of Carlos Alberto Parreira’s favourites during the World Cup in 2010. Khuboni spent a while at Arrows before leaving them for Mpumalanga Black Aces, and then moving to Highlands Park.
Moon is another unsettled player, having left Maritzburg United after making little impact there. Moon has been to giants like Panathinaikos of Greece and Mamelodi Sundowns. He has had stints with Arrows, Aces and Ajax Cape Town.
Moon represented Bafana in the Afcon held in Ghana in 2008. It is unclear where will he end up.
Mokoena parted ways with Ajax at the end of last season. He had joined them after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns.
The former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana midfielder-cum-striker won two league titles, a Nedbank Cup and the Telkom Knockout with Sundowns.
Phungwayo and Manqele might find themselves at Free State Stars after leaving Pirates and Chiefs respectively.
Manqele is on trial and Phungwayo apparently wanted by the Free State side.