Dynamic Pattison could be headed for Moscow as Khumalo hopes for Reading return

Sundowns midfielder Matthew Pattison could be going to Russia with love - after a trial with Dynamo Moscow.
Pattison, widely considered to be unlucky not to feature in Bafana Bafana's World Cup squad when South Africa hosted the World Cup last season, has been absent from Johan Neeskens' Mamelodi millionaires for a week after going on trial to the Russian capital.
While Dutch master Neeskens is being pilloried for his decision to drop goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands for the 3-0 defeat against Moroka Swallows on Saturday, a gloriously oblivious Pattison, 24, revealed: "I went to Moscow for three days and I only got back on Friday. I was on trial at Dynamo."
After seeing Sundowns team-mate Katlego "Killer" Mphela rejected after a similar visit to Glasgow giants Celtic two months ago, Pattison is understandly coy about his chances of a long-term contract with Dynamo.
Often over-looked by new boss Neeksens this season Pattison added: "Maybe I might go back to Moscow again, who knows? I'm not too sure so I will have to wait and see.
"I have to keep my options open, because I'm a free agent at the end of the season. My agent is speaking to Dynamo.
"You have to take care of your own interests and if it is not working out, then you got to move on."
But Pattison is only too aware of the pitfalls of a move overseas to further his career. Bafana Bafana central defender Bongani Khumalo was all set for a glittering career with Tottenham Hostpur when he moved from then-champions Supersports United for R15m in January.
Tman who scored his first international goal in the historic World Cup win over France in 2010 finds himself on loan at Championship club Reading - and unable to hold down a first team place at the Madejski Stadium.
Khumalo, also 24, started first four matches of Reading's crusade to regain Premier League status but injury and the vagaries of coach Brian McDermott's selection process has left him out in the cold at Reading... and Bafana.
Khumalo hasn't played since his Carling Cup defeat against Charlton Athletic at the end of August but insists: "I feel good and strong and ready to play so I just have to wait for my chance."
He told kick-0ff.com: "We're doing quite well right now, so it is unlikely things will change right now – all I can do is keep working and make sure I'm ready.
"I think I've finally settled in now but it has been a tough year for me. I'm getting used to the pace of the game and feeling more confident now."
Reading's lack of enthusiasm saw Khumalo - once considered a certainty as former Supersports United team-mate Morgan Gould's defensive partner - replaced by Siyabonga Sangweni in Pitso Mosimane's Bafana line-upBut after missing the embarrasing 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone - and the misguided post-match dance when Bafana's players though they had qualified for the 2012 CAF Nations Cup - Khumalo confesses: "It's one of the things but the rule is there so we just have to move on now."
Meanwhile Davide Somma, the Bafana striker who suffered a ligament injury at Leeds United last July, may be available at a reasonable fee to one of South Africa's major clubs.
Somma, born in Edenvale near Johannesburg, forged his goal-getting reputation in the United States before moving to Italy where he made inroads as a professional striker. But after impressing with Leeds last season - and making his hastily arranged South Africa debut against the USA - he may now be considered a saleable asset at Elland Road.
With Orlando Pirates suffering numerous injury problems to their big-name striker Benni McCarthy and Kaizer Chiefs struggling for form, a move for Somma is seen as "probable" in the current climate.

Bongani Khumalo ready to hunt down London's nasty Lions

Bongani Khumalo is all fired up for his League debut for Reading on Saturday – against Millwall at the Madejski Stadium.

Bafana Bafana defender Bongani Khumalo – sent out on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur after the Vodacom Challenge barely a week ago – played his first game in the blue-and-white hoops of the Royals in a 2-1 pre-season friendly win at neighbours Swindon Town on Saturday and immediately turned his attention to the opening Championship showdown.

It was against Millwall – the “Lions” who have a reputation as the nastiest team in the EastEnd of London – that Khumalo injured his metatarsal while loan at doomed Preston North End last season.

The Swaziland-born, Pretoria-raised 24-year-old says: "Millwall? It's a sweet start – Preston v Millwall was my last game in the Championship after my foot injury, so I'm looking forward to it. I'll be really fired up for the Lions!”

Though South African observers expressed doubt over their world-class defender going on loan to another second-tier club in England, Khumalo insists he has made the right decision.

Khumalo has played at the Madejski Stadium, just off the M4 40 miles west of London, before – when Preston were crushed 2-1 by play-off bound Reading last season.

He recalls: "It was a tough game, I remember thinking the football here is very good - the players were quick, strong and very direct - as a defender it was a busy night!

"I just got a great feeling from the club after coming here with Preston and it just felt right. I spoke with the manager Brian McDermott and I was very impressed with his plans for the season, so after that there was really only one option."

Though he was also linked to Scottish champions Rangers, Khumalo says of Reading, who reached the play-off final before losing to Swindon Town last season: "It's amazing and an unbelievable setup here. Everyone's very friendly and I'm looking forward to getting the season off to a good start. I’ve always wanted to play in England, it’s great, a wonderful opportunity.

"I just want to be the best possible player I can be for this club. I want to grow as a person as well as a footballer. It's been magic so far (since his £1.5m move from then-South African champions Supersports United in January) and I have learnt a lot."

Bongani Khumalo on his Reading debut, life and South Africa's chances in the Africa Cup of Nations

Bongani Khumalo will make his debut for Reading at in a glamour-free pre-season friendly at neighbours Swindon Town tomorrow (Saturday), just a week after appearing for Tottenham Hotspur in their 3-0 Vodacom Challenge win over South African champions Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park.

The 24-year-old Bafana Bafana centreback is on loan at the Championship club and he insists: “Right now I am a Reading player and the only thing I am thinking of is playing well for Reading.”

Khumalo, born in Swaziland and raised in Pretoria, joined Spurs in January for £1.5m after winning three successive South African Premier League titles with SuperSports United.

He has yet to play for Harry Redknapp’s first team apart from his appearances this month in South Africa and was linked to Scottish champions Rangers last month, with the prospect of Champions League football.

But Khumalo, who played six games on loan for relegated Championship club Preston North End last season, yesterday revealed it was Redknapp who persuaded him to stay in England. He told the Reading Post: “Harry talked about how Reading would be a great club to go to. He said I needed more experience.

“I remember seeing Reading when they were in the Premier League and seeing the stadium on TV in South Africa.

“I guess there will be a bit of interest in Reading back home in South Africa now as well.

“My family have been looking into the club and the history at Reading and they are getting themselves up to date with everything.

“Other clubs were mentioned, but as soon as I spoke to Reading there was only one place where I wanted to go. The manager Brian McDermott told me how hungry he was for success. That was a big selling point for me."

Khumalo played against Reading for Preston in a 2-1 defeat at Madejski Stadium last season. Reading went on to reach the play-off final and only missed out on a return to the Premier League after losing 4-2 to Swansea at Wembley.

Khumalo said: “I was impressed with the style of football Reading played and how they passed the ball around.

“The team seemed to have a very positive approach and that’s why they managed to get to the play-offs.

“I only met the rest of the guys yesterday for the first time on the way to Bristol Rovers and they were all very nice. At this moment I’m not even thinking about a permanent deal at Reading. It’s very early days.”

Khumalo, under the terms of his loan agreement, could be recalled by Spurs in January. With the veteran William Gallas and injury-prone Ledley King among their centre-backs, he may be needed to supplement a defence which also includes Younes Kaboul and England regular Michael Dawson.

But with South Africa currently topping their qualification group, Khumalo’s season is likely to be interrupted by the Africa Cup of Nations which will he held from January 21 to February 12 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Khumalo added: “South Africa haven’t done too well in the Africa Cup of Nations for some time, so it would be fantastic to win it.

“Off the back of the World Cup I think we have improved and playing for South Africa feels like playing for a club nowadays.

“We have a lot of promising young players coming through and being part of that is something that I take great pride in.”

Tottenham's loan ranger Khumalo will be Reading between the lines

Bongani Khumalo’s topsy-turvy football career as Tottenham’s “loan ranger” has become a case of Reading between the lines. Careful, that’s Reading, not reading.

It was the Royals coach Brian McDermott, questioned by the local Reading Post newspaper, who gave us a nudge and a wink towards the former SuperSports United captain’s future destination this weekend.

While Khumalo was helping Tottenham Hotspur win the Vodacom Challenge Final with an emphatic 3-0 over Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, his future Championship team-mates were winning by an identical score-line at Northampton Town’s less impressive Sixfields.

After the game former Arsenal midfielder McDermott, the 50-year-old Reading boss renowned for unearthing young talent at the Madejski Stadium, was asked about South Africa’s 24-year-old centre-back Khumalo and grinned: “He’s a player I know well.”

Thousands of miles south in Johannesburg, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp confirmed Khumalo would be headed 40 miles west to Reading, despite offering the Bafana Bafana defender to Scottish champions Rangers on loan three weeks ago.

Redknapp, who hates being described as a wheeler-dealer, said: “Look, Bongani lacks experience, this is only his first year in England. I have experienced central defenders like Ledley King, William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul and Sebastien Bassong.

“So it looks like this loan move to Reading will happen. We have the option of a recall in January, but it will be a good move for him. He’s a good lad.

“It will be difficult for him to get into the team here. He will be much better off going out on loan to gain experience and adapt to the lifestyle in England.

“I’m sure in a year he will come back a better player. Then it will be up to him to prove whether he is good enough to start for Spurs.”

Khumalo was subjected to a similar set of quotes last season, when he was farmed out to doomed Championship club Preston North End after failing to break in to the first team after his £1.5m move from Pretoria in January. He managed six games before suffering a metatarsal injury. Preston were relegated but their former Hull City boss Phil Brown did laud some of his performances as “outstanding”.

The word from Reading is there are a few loose ends to be tied up. They will have to pay Khumalo's salary, as is the tradition with loan moves. Khumalo’s agent Glyn Binkin appeared keen on the move to Glasgow and possible Champions League football under new Rangers boss Ally McCoist. But the switch to Reading will mean significantly less unheaval – and a gentler path to regular English football for Khumalo, often hailed as “the new Lucas Radebe”.

Unless there is a last-minute hitch, Khumalo will return to train not with Spurs but Reading this week but he had this parting message for his homeland: “I get a lot of love from the people of this wonderful country and I’m grateful for that.”