Mamelodi Sundowns confirm FOUR exits, 16 more to come?
Mamelodi Sundowns confirm FOUR exits, 16 more to come?
The Mamelodi Sundowns exodus has officially gotten underway as the club has announced four players’ departures ahead of next season.
Plenty of changes are expected at Sundowns ahead of next season, including a large turnover of playing staff.
Four players seem to have been the start of those changes. Bongani Zungu, Brian Onyango, Gaston Sirino and Thabiso Kutumela. Of the four players, only Onyango saw his contract coming to an end. While the other players were still contracted to Sundowns. That effectively means either the club or the players had requested to part ways.
Zungu, Onyango, Sirino and Kutumela released by Sundowns.
Zungu had just featured from the start for Sundowns against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final. That proved to be the last game for Zungu in Sundowns colours, however. For some local football fans, it will also be remembered as the occasion he was skinned by Relebohile Mofokeng. To make matters worse, it was the action directly ahead of the finish from the teenager. That then gave Pirates a 2-1 come from behind win.
Zungu joined Sundowns two seasons ago but had to go through an extensive fitness regime before finally making his debut. The delay probably took its toll, as he was never a regular in the midfield, by the time he was deemed fully fit. When he did play, however, he was often used in a centre-back-midfield hybrid role.
Interestingly enough, Zungu took to his official Instagram account to announce his departure from Sundowns. Sirino has been trying to leave the club for quite sometime now, and has a had a few run ins with management. Three-years ago, he was the subject of intense interest from Al Ahly under his former coach at Masandawana coach Pitso Mosimane. He now departs Chloorkop after seven years.
Whats next for the players? more to come?
Onyango was a bit part player who was not a fan favourite, while Kutumela returned from a loan at Cape Town City. Sundowns have at least another 14 players that could be shown the exit door for different reasons ahead of the new season. It is clear that they’re looking to clear out the deadwood before another recruitment drive.