Sports / Soccer
Another Caps United player to sign for Mamelodi Sundowns today
09 Jun 2011 at 04:43hrs | Views
SIMBA SITHOLE, the teenage Zimbabwe international forward who has created waves in the domestic Premiership this year, will today seal a three-year deal to play for South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns.
The deadly forward, who is leading the Castle Lager Premiership Golden Boot race with 10 goals scored from exactly 10 appearances in league matches for CAPS United this season, will follow the path to Super
Diski taken by Method Mwanjali, Lionel Mtizwa and Nyasha Mushekwi last year.
The three Zimbabwe internationals left the Green Machine and joined Mamelodi Sundowns with Warriors' skipper Mwanjali and striker Mushekwi establishing themselves at the Pretoria club while Mtizwa was haunted by injuries.
Sithole joined CAPS United at the beginning of the season, after having played for Shooting Stars last year, and has turned himself into arguably the deadliest forward in the Castle Lager Premiership.
He has scored two hattricks and yesterday he was the destroyer-in-chief as CAPS United crushed Masvingo United 4-1 in a league match at the National Sports Stadium.
Although no official comment could be obtained from CAPS United or Mamelodi Sundowns officials yesterday, The Herald can reveal that Sithole is today set to sign a three-year deal, provided he passes a routine medical.
The 19-year-old striker is scheduled to fly out of Harare this morning, in the company of his manager Ziyambi Ziyambi, for Johannesburg where they will be picked up by Sundowns officials for the medical and signing ceremony in Pretoria.
It has been has established that negotiations have been going on, between CAPS United and Sundowns officials, for the past two weeks and representatives of the Green Machine were in South Africa last week to discuss the deal.
The two clubs agreed on an undisclosed fee and the two parties signed an agreement that Sithole would be signed by Sundowns once he passes a medical and he also settles issues related to his personal package.
Yesterday Sundowns advised CAPS United that they wanted their big target to come and formalise his move to the Pretoria side today.
Ziyambi, a former CAPS United official who became Sithole's manager after taking custody of the orphaned striker while he was still in school at Pamushana High in Masvingo, will negotiate the personal terms on behalf of the striker.
"It's a done deal and Simba and his manager are leaving for South Africa tomorrow morning (today) and all that is left is for the medical and the personal terms, which should not be a problem," said the sources. The hard part was for Sundowns to make a decision that he is the man they want to help their team and also to agree with CAPS United on a fee for the player once that decision had been made that Simba should be their player.
"The CAPS United officials have been working closely with Ziyambi and they have structured a deal that should help the player move to another level in a career that promises so much for the youngster. By the end of the day tomorrow (today) everything should be in order and Simba Sithole will become a Mamelodi Sundowns player.
"That's the good thing about Sundowns because when they want their man, and they are so convinced he can make a difference to the team, they will win him because they can move mountains for that."
Sithole was wanted by Maritzburg United, a modest South African Premiership side, went for trials there and has been waiting for feedback from the team.
But Sundowns, who came later into the picture, have taken over the show and signed clearly the hottest striking property in Zimbabwe's domestic football leagues today.
Trott Moloto, the influential Sundowns official who is in charge of all technical matters at the club and reports directly to team owner Patrice Motsepe, tracked Sithole to Bulawayo when CAPS United played
Highlanders in a league match two weeks ago. Although Sithole had a good show in the first half, in which he terrorised the Bosso defenders, he ran out of steam in the second period.
Moloto said it was difficult to have a fair assessment of Sithole given that the pitch at Barbourfields that day was poor, which made ball control very difficult.
The Sundowns official was also in Harare at the weekend and watched the 2012 Nations Cup tie between Zimbabwe and Mali at Rufaro.
Sithole, initially part of the squad, was dropped when Warriors' coach Norman Mapeza named his final 18-man squad.
Things, though, appear to have moved quickly in the past two weeks and, with Sithole having regained his scoring touch and scoring five goals in two league matches, Sundowns have moved in for their man.
Sithole and his manager are set to return home this evening with CAPS United sources saying part of their agreement with Sundowns was that the striker will remain available for the Green Machine until the South
African side start their pre-season training next month.
"Simba is just going to tie his deal because Sundowns want it on paper that he is now their player but there are certain agreements that have been structured," said the sources.
"One of the big issues is that Simba will immediately return to Harare, after signing his deal, and should be in camp with his fellow CAPS United players on Friday when they prepare for their next league match against Monomotapa on Saturday.
"He will also be available for selection for the big Harare Derby between CAPS United and Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium next Sunday.
"When you consider that the reverse fixture of the Harare Derby will also be played just two or so weeks after the first one, it means that Simba will be available for both matches and a couple of other matches."
CAPS United will then have to invest in a striker, to fill in the role to be created by Sithole's departure, but finding one who fits into his shoes is likely to be a big problem.
It's his stunning conversion rate, given his young age, which is incredible and, at the Green Machine, the forward had found a home where he had developed his game and taken it to another level.
While he was dangerous at Shooting Stars last year, he wasn'tconsistent, and he never looked settled.
This year he has been deadly and yesterday he fired a hattrick, to take is tally to 10 goals in the league in 10 appearances for Makepekepe, given that he has missed two league matches for his team this season.
His first goal yesterday was a beauty, eliminating his marker with a touch that created space down the left and then, without breaking stride, volleying home a stunning goal that gave the Masvingo goalkeeper no chance.
His second goal was a trademark twist and turn, again to create space, and a cool finish with his right foot.
He as also scored regularly for the Young Warriors, taking them within just two games of a place at the All-Africa Games, and was the only home-based striker drafted by Mapeza into his squad to prepare for the game against Mali.
He was praised by Ovidy Karuru, the Warriors' man-of-the-match in the win over Mali, for his performance in training, even though he didn't make the final 18.
"We have a very good team and there are a lot of talented players in the squad," said Karuru.
"It's tough even for the coach (Norman Mapeza) to come up with his final squad of 18 because you feel that all the guys deserve their place in the team.
"The competition for places was tight during our training sessions and you could see that everyone was playing for his jersey.
"Simba Sithole gave the defenders all sorts of problems during training and, watching him play, you could feel that he deserves a place in the final 18.
"But the coach had to make decisions which he felt were good for the team and we are all happy that it worked out well."
The deadly forward, who is leading the Castle Lager Premiership Golden Boot race with 10 goals scored from exactly 10 appearances in league matches for CAPS United this season, will follow the path to Super
Diski taken by Method Mwanjali, Lionel Mtizwa and Nyasha Mushekwi last year.
The three Zimbabwe internationals left the Green Machine and joined Mamelodi Sundowns with Warriors' skipper Mwanjali and striker Mushekwi establishing themselves at the Pretoria club while Mtizwa was haunted by injuries.
Sithole joined CAPS United at the beginning of the season, after having played for Shooting Stars last year, and has turned himself into arguably the deadliest forward in the Castle Lager Premiership.
He has scored two hattricks and yesterday he was the destroyer-in-chief as CAPS United crushed Masvingo United 4-1 in a league match at the National Sports Stadium.
Although no official comment could be obtained from CAPS United or Mamelodi Sundowns officials yesterday, The Herald can reveal that Sithole is today set to sign a three-year deal, provided he passes a routine medical.
The 19-year-old striker is scheduled to fly out of Harare this morning, in the company of his manager Ziyambi Ziyambi, for Johannesburg where they will be picked up by Sundowns officials for the medical and signing ceremony in Pretoria.
It has been has established that negotiations have been going on, between CAPS United and Sundowns officials, for the past two weeks and representatives of the Green Machine were in South Africa last week to discuss the deal.
The two clubs agreed on an undisclosed fee and the two parties signed an agreement that Sithole would be signed by Sundowns once he passes a medical and he also settles issues related to his personal package.
Yesterday Sundowns advised CAPS United that they wanted their big target to come and formalise his move to the Pretoria side today.
Ziyambi, a former CAPS United official who became Sithole's manager after taking custody of the orphaned striker while he was still in school at Pamushana High in Masvingo, will negotiate the personal terms on behalf of the striker.
"It's a done deal and Simba and his manager are leaving for South Africa tomorrow morning (today) and all that is left is for the medical and the personal terms, which should not be a problem," said the sources. The hard part was for Sundowns to make a decision that he is the man they want to help their team and also to agree with CAPS United on a fee for the player once that decision had been made that Simba should be their player.
"The CAPS United officials have been working closely with Ziyambi and they have structured a deal that should help the player move to another level in a career that promises so much for the youngster. By the end of the day tomorrow (today) everything should be in order and Simba Sithole will become a Mamelodi Sundowns player.
"That's the good thing about Sundowns because when they want their man, and they are so convinced he can make a difference to the team, they will win him because they can move mountains for that."
Sithole was wanted by Maritzburg United, a modest South African Premiership side, went for trials there and has been waiting for feedback from the team.
But Sundowns, who came later into the picture, have taken over the show and signed clearly the hottest striking property in Zimbabwe's domestic football leagues today.
Trott Moloto, the influential Sundowns official who is in charge of all technical matters at the club and reports directly to team owner Patrice Motsepe, tracked Sithole to Bulawayo when CAPS United played
Highlanders in a league match two weeks ago. Although Sithole had a good show in the first half, in which he terrorised the Bosso defenders, he ran out of steam in the second period.
Moloto said it was difficult to have a fair assessment of Sithole given that the pitch at Barbourfields that day was poor, which made ball control very difficult.
The Sundowns official was also in Harare at the weekend and watched the 2012 Nations Cup tie between Zimbabwe and Mali at Rufaro.
Sithole, initially part of the squad, was dropped when Warriors' coach Norman Mapeza named his final 18-man squad.
Things, though, appear to have moved quickly in the past two weeks and, with Sithole having regained his scoring touch and scoring five goals in two league matches, Sundowns have moved in for their man.
Sithole and his manager are set to return home this evening with CAPS United sources saying part of their agreement with Sundowns was that the striker will remain available for the Green Machine until the South
African side start their pre-season training next month.
"Simba is just going to tie his deal because Sundowns want it on paper that he is now their player but there are certain agreements that have been structured," said the sources.
"One of the big issues is that Simba will immediately return to Harare, after signing his deal, and should be in camp with his fellow CAPS United players on Friday when they prepare for their next league match against Monomotapa on Saturday.
"He will also be available for selection for the big Harare Derby between CAPS United and Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium next Sunday.
"When you consider that the reverse fixture of the Harare Derby will also be played just two or so weeks after the first one, it means that Simba will be available for both matches and a couple of other matches."
CAPS United will then have to invest in a striker, to fill in the role to be created by Sithole's departure, but finding one who fits into his shoes is likely to be a big problem.
It's his stunning conversion rate, given his young age, which is incredible and, at the Green Machine, the forward had found a home where he had developed his game and taken it to another level.
While he was dangerous at Shooting Stars last year, he wasn'tconsistent, and he never looked settled.
This year he has been deadly and yesterday he fired a hattrick, to take is tally to 10 goals in the league in 10 appearances for Makepekepe, given that he has missed two league matches for his team this season.
His first goal yesterday was a beauty, eliminating his marker with a touch that created space down the left and then, without breaking stride, volleying home a stunning goal that gave the Masvingo goalkeeper no chance.
His second goal was a trademark twist and turn, again to create space, and a cool finish with his right foot.
He as also scored regularly for the Young Warriors, taking them within just two games of a place at the All-Africa Games, and was the only home-based striker drafted by Mapeza into his squad to prepare for the game against Mali.
He was praised by Ovidy Karuru, the Warriors' man-of-the-match in the win over Mali, for his performance in training, even though he didn't make the final 18.
"We have a very good team and there are a lot of talented players in the squad," said Karuru.
"It's tough even for the coach (Norman Mapeza) to come up with his final squad of 18 because you feel that all the guys deserve their place in the team.
"The competition for places was tight during our training sessions and you could see that everyone was playing for his jersey.
"Simba Sithole gave the defenders all sorts of problems during training and, watching him play, you could feel that he deserves a place in the final 18.
"But the coach had to make decisions which he felt were good for the team and we are all happy that it worked out well."
Source - TH
