JOHANNESBURG - Pitso Mosimane has confirmed that leftback Farés Hachi and striker Yannick Zakri will go out on loan to Chippa United and Ajax Cape Town respectively to free up the foreign quota at Mamelodi Sundowns.
The PSL only allows clubs to register up to five non-South African players and the Brazilians had exceeded their allocation for this season even though they have just signed Uruguayan winger Gastòn Sirino and forward Jeremy Brockie, who is from New Zealand.
This conundrum has led to speculation about which players Sundowns would sell or release on loan until the end of the season.
“We have reached an agreement to loan out our two foreigners – Hachi is going to Chippa and Zakri to Ajax,” Mosimane said on Wednesday afternoon.
“We have kept Bangaly (Soumahoro), Ricardo (Nascimento) came on also and we still have Brimah (Razak). So that’s the foreign quota we have and those are the players that we have released, remember that (Leonardo) Castro is at Chiefs.”
Sundowns also signed Siyabonga Zulu from Platinum Stars and Mosimane said he was a direct replacement for Hachi, who struggled to get game time with Tebogo Langerman the preferred leftback.
“We needed cover,” the coach said. “And Zulu has played for Bafana. Yes, he didn’t have a good start, but he played for Bafana. He has potential. Langerman is playing for Bafana, and (Sifiso) Hlanti is playing for Bafana. So he (Zulu) is in the right space.”
The Brazilians don’t have to worry about their other six non-South African players – Anthony Laffor (Liberia), Denis Onyango (Uganda), Kennedy Mweene (Zambia), Mogakolodi Ngele (Botswana), Khama Billiat and Cuthbert Malajila (both Zimbabwe) – because they have long since acquired permanent residency.
‘It’s a relief being at the club finally, it’s a new fresh challenge that I’m looking forward to’ Jeremy Brockie #Sundowns pic.twitter.com/AzOdxEx7gJ
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) January 17, 2018
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