PSL Transfer News Round-up

South African top-flight football started this past weekend with MTN 8 action which saw Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC progress. Defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns are in action this weekend against Polokwane City while Sekhukhune United plays Cape Town City FC. The league start has been scheduled for Sept 14th with an exciting Tshwane derby as Sundowns host SuperSport United. In the meantime, it allows us to examine the stats of some recent signings for players who moved teams across the Premier Soccer League.

Sifiso Hlanti

Hlanti played 21 games for AmaKhosi in 2023/24 but was shown the exit door by the Soweto Giants following the arrival of a new coach Nasreddine Nabi. The left-back played in an advanced position down the left flank, often joining the attack and providing scoring opportunities. The 34-year-old ex-Bafana Bafana player spent three seasons with the Glamour Boys and now awaits to hear where he will be plying his trade for 2024/25.

His touch map above shows the area of the field he was most used last season. Chiefs will look to fill his space with whatever system Nabi will look to implement based on the players at his disposal. 

Nyiko Mobbie

Mobbie played a big part in Sekhukhune United’s fourth place finish last season and with the change in coach/management has also moved on and signed with SuperSport United. New coach Peter Hyballa will have to find a suitable replacement option to replace a right back who has been one of Sekhukhune United’s most reliable players over the previous three seasons playing 27, 27, and 22 games respectively each season.

Vincent Pule

The former Orlando Pirates player joined SuperSport United and reunited with his former coach Gavin Hunt. He was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bucs after having played only a handful of games since the end of the 2020/21 season (6, 14 and 9 games). He started his first game for Matsatsantsa in their MTN 8 defeat to Orlando Pirates this past weekend and also got on the scoresheet. With SuperSport United losing important players in recent seasons – most of them youngsters, coach Gavin Hunt looks to be using experience to bolster his squad options. One major difference in 2024/25 is the lack of extra competitive CAF games which might ease the load on the squad as they look to be more competitive again. 

Asanele Velebayi

Reportedly the 21-year-old is fighting a battle with his current employers (Cape Town Spurs) as he hopes to make a move to the Glamour Boys. Having featured in 23 league games (starting 21 of those), Velebayi played a versatile role for Spurs in their 2023/24 campaign. Known as a midfielder, he played all across the park from attacking to central, and even a few games as a defensive midfielder. 

Opta Jabu