The transfer window is a period that allows teams to refine their squads ahead of the new season, and this time around, the market is saturated with several talented and experienced stars with many free agents.
Keagan Dolly, Itumeleng Khune, and Gaston Sirino are among the top DStv Premiership stars who are in search of a new home after being discarded by Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Hollywoodbets Sports lists prominent players who are out in the cold, hoping to land lucrative long-term deals to continue or reignite their footballing careers.
Bongani Zungu
Nicknamed ‘Ben 10’ when he was in the infant stages of his career, Zungu has now come of age and he is approaching the twilight of his career.
His sudden exit from Sundowns last month raised many eyebrows as the club and Zungu entered into a premature divorce as the former Bafana Bafana midfielder still had a season left in his contract.
Most chairmen in the DStv Premiership may not mind giving away an arm and a leg to secure the services of a high-quality player like Zungu.
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Last season, the 31-year-old operated at a very high level, doubling up as a centre-back and a holding midfielder, who – oftentimes – play defence-splitting passes, and supplies the likes of Lucas Ribeiro and Peter Shalulile.
Potential move: Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, an overseas or reunite with Rulani Mokwena at Wydad Casablanca.
Keagan Dolly
Dolly is believed to have been one of the top earners in the country last season as various reports suggested that he was taking home about R1 million.
If that is the case, he would definitely have to take a pay cut if he stays in South Africa, as no team would be in their right mind to pay that amount of money for a player who is in the latter stages of his career.
Moreover, Dolly’s career at Chiefs is a chapter he would not mind erasing from his story. Dolly was linked with SuperSport United, but Gavin Hunt was supposedly not shown the green light to sign him.
However, the former Montpellier winger will not be short of suitors, given his experience with Bafana and the CAF Champions League exploits with Masandawana in 2016.
Potential move: Cape Town City, move to the Gulf region, or join Chippa United, as chairman Siviwe Mpengesi is not shy to open up his purse.
Gaston Sirino
The Uruguayan maestro landed in South Africa in January 2017 and became an instant hit, to the point that he was eventually handed the club’s No.10 jersey when Downs legend Teko Modise left for the Mother City. Sirino continued to flourish, but his time at Sundowns was not all rosy.
The 33-year-old, on two occasions, requested to leave Chloorkop after being charmed by interest from Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Downs dealt with him decisively as he lost his place in the team until he was released at the end of the previous term.
However, Sirino’s quality is there for all to see as he made the most of the few games that he featured in last season. If he opts to stay in the DStv Premiership, he can probably play for about two or three seasons with high intensity as he has never shown any signs of slowing down.
Potential move: Cape Town City, SuperSport United, Primera División in Uruguay, Stellenbosch FC, or join Abram Sello’s revamped Marumo Gallants.
Itumeleng Khune
Khune will forever be regarded as one of Mzansi’s finest goalkeepers as he was the number one goal-minder in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Kaizer Chiefs’ mainstay for several years.
However, he too knows that his best days are past him. Amakhosi showed appreciation to Khune when he marked a quarter of a century at Chiefs this past season, but that was not farewell, Khune has insisted.
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‘Spiderkid’, as he was dubbed in his breakout years, Khune is not ready to hang up his gloves, but it has become clear should he continue to play football this coming season, it will not be in the famous gold and black.
Chiefs are currently sharpening the saw in Turkey under new coach Naresddine Nabi, and Khune – who is out of contract – has been left behind.
Potential move: Mid-weight clubs such as Sekhukhune United, Polokwane City or TS Galaxy. Retirement is also an option for the 37-year-old.
Kermit Erasmus
Recently seen playing in the dusty fields of Jozi where he was supporting Sphiwe Tshabalala’s tournament Phiri, Soweto. Erasmus was clearly not happy in the manner in which he left Pirates.
In a riveting behind-the-scenes documentary series, The Changeroom, Erasmus blamed the club for keeping him in the dark about his future in the last six months of his deal.
He was eventually released alongside players like Fortune Makaringe, Thabang Monare, who have joined The Citizens and Sekhukhune respectively.
Erasmus might be tempted to return to Matsatsantsa A Pitori where he launched his local career after a short stint with Dutch side Feyenoord in 2009.
You get the sense that the former Sundowns attacker has unfinished business in the Premier Soccer League, and would want to go out on his terms.
Potential move: Stellenbosch, SuperSport, Marumo Gallants, or Chippa United, who released a substantial amount of players this month.
Richard Ofori
‘The Black Cat’ spent three seasons at Pirates where he made 35 appearances in the league paired with 17 cup competition appearances.
Aged 30, Ofori is still in the prime of his career if the saying ‘goalkeepers age like fine wine’ is anything to go by. However, there aren’t many teams in the league who are looking for a first-choice goalkeeper as a player of Ofori’s calibre would be expected to be the main man wherever he goes.
However, Ofori may be attracted by the possibility if moving away from South Africa, given his experience at the international level with Ghana, his representatives may find it easy to get him Champions League competing club on the continent or engineer a move to the rich Saudi Pro League.
Potential move: AmaZulu, Stellenbosch, Polokwane City or turn his back on the DStv Premiership.
