AmaZulu tie down former Downs and Chiefs skipper

AMAZULU coach Pablo Franco has decided to retain captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele for a further season at the club.

Mphahlele, the 34-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs captain, was a solid performer for Usuthu last season. His contract ended last season, but the club did not show him the exit door as in the case of Augustine Kwem, George Maluleke and Victor Letsoalo.

AmaZulu have also signed a two-year deal with Guinea international Boniface Haba, who plays as a winger. The 27-year-old has played eight times for the Guinea national team.

Marumo Gallants have snapped up Zimbabwean midfielder Daniel Msendami despite the approaches of CAF heavyweights Simba SC and TP Mazembe.

Msendami is well known to local fans after playing a key role in Jwaneng Galaxy’s win over Orlando Pirates in a Champions League tie last season. He joins from Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy and the coach there Morena Ramoreboli rates him alongside his fellow countryman Khama Billiat.

SuperSport United have tied up their technical staff with two-year contract extensions, starting with head honcho Gavin Hunt, a four-time PSL-winning coach. His assistant Andre Arendse and goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson also put pen to paper.

The playing personnel was boosted by experienced defender Thulani Hlatshwayo who has been given a further one-year deal.

Midfielder Gape Moralo, who thought his time was up at SuperSport, secured a two-year contract as did Zambian striker Ghampani Lungu and 20-year-old defender Bilal Baloyi.

Chippa United co-coaches Kwanele Kopo and Thabo September have shown their hand with four signings ahead of the new season.

Midfielder Xolani Sithole, 25, last played at Uthongathi but has also turned out for lower league side Ladysmith United, and second-tier outfits Free State Stars and Casric Stars.

Attacking midfielder Thobani Jacobs, 21, was last at Pretoria Callies but left them at the end of the 2022/23 season and did not play professional football in the last campaign. He made 16 appearances (seven starts) over two seasons, scoring two goals.

Centre-back Samkelo Jali, 24, arrives at the club from Maritzburg United, where he spent last season, and before that was with Uthongathi. He joins his namesake, former Bafana Bafana midfielder Andile Jali, the 34-year-old who is a household name in local football circles.

Samkelo made only eight appearances (six starts) for Maritzburg in the 2023/24 campaign and has 25 professional appearances over three seasons in his career.

Sifiso Mazibuko, 20, last played professional football for Jomo Cosmos and will add to the attacking options for Chippa on the right wing.

Chippa have also unveiled former TS Galaxy midfielder Aphelele Teto and winger Giovanni Philander.

Former Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu left-back Sibusiso Mabiliso, who battled to secure game time in the Premiership, has also failed to impress newcomers Magesi FC on a recent trial.

However, Mabiliso, born and bred in Rustenburg, has landed a contract with FC Shkupi, a top-tier club in North Macedonia, a landlocked country in south-east Europe.