Nato is still our player-GU

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 25, 2012 00:00

 

South African media last week reported that Nato has penned a two-year deal with Wits. GU spokesperson,Lepholetha City Senne confirmed to Mmegi Sport yesterday that Wits have not submitted any formal offer for the player. Nato was on target for the 'Clever Boys' on Saturday helping them beat Supersport United 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Gauteng Cup.

Senne said the player was used in the tournament, as Wits had wanted to assess him in a match situation before making any decision on signing him. He said three South African Premier League clubs had shown interest in Nato but none had offered him a contract. Supersport United and newly promoted University of Pretoria have also expressed interest in the player. Senne said they would not give away their most prized asset in recent years without considering various issues, in particular his future. He said they would like to sell him to a club where he would be able to get game time and grow in his career. Nato has been in great form for GU and attracted interest from abroad after netting against Bafana Bafana in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in June.

Meanwhile, Senne would not discuss the progress of defender George Musa Ohilwe who was also invited for trials at Supersport United, as he did not have any information. Still in the 'Reds' camp, two injury casualties during a Coca-Cola Cup clash against BDF XI on Saturday will be out for relatively long periods. Winger, Kgololo Leteane, who suffered a fractured ankle, was assessed and will be out for about four to six months. Defender Gobonyeone Selefa, who dislocated his shoulder, will also be out for a few months, though it may be shorter depending on his recovery. Senne said although they would have loved to have a full squad for the Coke finals against Mochudi Centre Chiefs, he was confident they have a solid squad and replacements will be found for injured players.

Defender, Tumisang Sekanonyane served his last suspension this past weekend while winger Mandla Mgadla, who has been seeing little action lately, may get a start replacing Leteane. Senne said overall the team performed relatively well this year looking at the circumstances they played under. GU finished fourth in the league and progressed to the semi-finals of the Mascom Top 8 and they still have a chance to end the season with some silverware if they win the Coke Cup.

'Our intention is to win the Coke Cup, we did well looking at the fact that we were still rebuilding after acquiring new players in the past two windows, and our coaching department was also inconsistent,' Senne said.