COSAFA Performance Opens Doors For Zebras Players
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday June 11, 2018 12:58
Zebras finished sixth at the tournament having been knocked out in the quarterfinals by Zimbabwe on penalties. They also went down to South Africa in the plate final, but will be happy that they will play the preliminaries in the next edition having finished in the top six. The performance of many of the Zebras players appear to have opened doors and with both Seakanyeng and Kgamanyane having already signed deals, reports are that several other players are on the radar of South African clubs.
The tournament’s top goalscorer, Onkabetse Makgantai is said to be on the wanted list of some of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams. Other PSL sides have also reportedly enquired about Township Rollers goalkeeper, Mwampule Masule as well as GU striker, Tumisang Orebonye and Orapa United left back, Lesenya Ramoraka.
Seakanyeng and Kgamanyane deals will come as a relief to both the players as well as the GU following a difficult three months of animosity over unpaid salaries.
Seakanyeng in particular was amongst the players who had asked to terminate their contracts with the club. Although the club’s general manager, Olebile Sikwane could not reveal the figures regarding the two transfers, he said the deals should be celebrated, as it is a life changing opportunity. “It is a life changing deal for the boys and we should celebrate it as a nation.
These boys are no longer GU players, they are Botswana ambassadors in the PSL. The modus operandi of how deals were sealed is inconsequential,” he said. Kgamanyane only arrived at GU last season from Black Forest and finished the season as the top goalscorer. “GU spent a fortune on Kgamanyane when we bought him for a record transfer fee of nearly P200, 000, now it is GU’s turn to ‘eat’.
“KB emerged as a valuable player at COSAFA , so we are very happy with our return on investment,” Sikwane added. He said the transfer fee and the personal terms remain confidential. Regarding Orebonye, Sikwane said they are talking to two PSL clubs but added that since he was emerging from injury going to the tournament, he did not quiet raise his hand.