The South African transfer window: is it open or is it broken?

Forgotten man: Tenda Ndoro at Orlando Pirates

THE official PSL account on twitter announced it proudly at exactly 8am this morning: “The domestic transfer window is officially open.”

After that, just the creak of that opening window and tumbleweed blowing through the league’s offices in Parktown until the closing of a slightly cracked window at 5pm on Friday, January 29.

Sadly, the South African transfer system appears to be broken. Or at the very least, in need of a thorough clean. Every six months we talk about big moves that SHOULD happen, how our R9m record fee SHOULD be broken, how Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates SHOULD have enough money for a match-winner.

But it simply doesn’t happen. In fact, since Mamelodi Sundowns stopped spending Patrice Motsepe’s billions two seasons ago, our transfer market has become something of a joke.

While the rest of the football-speaking world lashes out record-breaking millions, the best a PSL club has ever managed was the reputed R9m Sundowns played Ajax Cape Town for Khama Billiat in August 2013.

In current terms, R9m amounts to about 400,000 British pounds. Even third tier clubs pay more than that in Europe. Remember, when they were still a Championship club, Bournemouth paid 2.5m (R70m) for Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie in August 2013, around the same time Billiat was leaving Cape Town for Tshwane. And he’s played 10mins in the Premier League this season.

The enormous fees paid in Europe cannot be matched in Africa... but the collapse of South Africa's fee-system remains a staggering but unwritten sensation.

There are obvious players who SHOULD demand more than R9m in the PSL today. Siphelele Ntshangase languishes with NFD club Black Leopards, teenager Phakamani Mahlambi and his Bidvest Wits team-mate Sibusiso Vilakasi should be tempting the Soweto giants.

And for lesser fees, Tendai Ndoro, Thabo Qalinge, David Zulu and Lehlohonolo Majoro are among the obvious targets as they warm benches at Pirates and Chiefs. And then you have the current PSL top scorers, Daine Klate and Collins Mbesuma, two men let go by the big clubs, plying their trade with significant success for Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces.

So will we see a big transfer swoop this window? Probably not. In South Africa, coaches are rarely allowed to splash out money like they are in Europe. Here, technical directors and general managers do the deals directly with agents.

As I have documented here many times, Stuart Baxter left Chiefs because Bobby Motaung would not allow him a say on recruitment after last season's record breaking PSL title triumph. James Keene, the English journeyman who trialled brightly at Naturena, has just been snapped up by Gavin Hunt and Jose Ferreira at big-spending minnows Wits a year after Chiefs refused to make a move.

The problem is the agent/club link. Transfer fees are seen as money "wasted" when it can be split between the officials involved in the deal. The days of small clubs part-funding themselves with transfer fees from the giants appear to be over.

That’s why Tim Sukazi, currently the most successful agent in South Africa thanks to his strong links to national coach Shakes Mashaba, shifted his players around a year ago. Tshepo Gumede and Siyabonga Mpontshane went to Orlando Pirates while Tlou Segolela went the other way to Platinum Stars. All three were presented as BIG SIGNINGS but in truth, it was a swap deal which has resulted in very little for either club but a nice slice of the pie for everyone involved except the clubs.

When Kaizer Chiefs top scorer Mandla Masango and PSL player of the season Tefu Mashamaite were not given new contracts after winning the championship last year, neither of them could find a local club willing to step in. Incredibly, they both had to decamp to Scandinavia to get a game.

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs announced the "big transfers" of Siyanda Xulu, Keegan Ritchie, Daniel Cardoso, Camaldine Abraw (amid some controversy), Bongani Ndulula, Edward Manqele and, later, an unknown Ugandan called Sula Matovu.

Oh, and they also tried to present Sibongiseni Ngcobo and Andisiwe Mtsila, two “academy” lads, as new signings, along with Lucky Baloyi, because he hadn’t gone out on loan. And, finally, they did a new deal with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, clearly on Bobby's terms.

Go through those names. Look for the transfer fees. Try to guess the salaries. These weren’t transfers, these were deals struck between Bobby Motaung and various agents. Neither the out-going Stuart Baxter nor new coach Steve Komphela had any say.

In truth, the European-style transfer swoop is dead in South Africa. That magical, morale-boosting grab, like Petr Cech going to Arsenal for £10million or Anthony Martial to Manchester United for £36million just won’t happen.

There is no transparency in our transfer market. Just as the PSL refuses to give us crowd figures, so we are denied ANY INSIGHT in to fees or salaries. Fans and journalists alike work in the dark. We know the big clubs have plenty of money - Vodacom, Carling and Absa offer millions - but we have no idea where it goes.

While the fans rush around talking in excited tones about Vilakazi going to Kaizer Chiefs after Bobby Motaung (illegally) said he wants to go, the agents are shifting around New Zealanders (five at the last count) and age-cheating journeymen in deeply dodgy dealings with the likes of Motaung and Screamer Tshabalala while their chairmen are given sketchy details.

SuperSport United led the way in the last window. Dean Furman, Bongani Khumalo and Michael Boxall all arrived from foreign fields (along with a couple of others from Down Under) and we all knew money was being spent but HOW MUCH? And WHY? Mike Makaab, fashionable when Gordon Igesund was Bafana coach, is now Stanley Matthews' best pal, along with a chap called Glyn Binkin, architect of such memorable deals as Katlego Mphela and Morgan Gould to Chiefs.

Just as South African football craves disappearing spray, goal-line technology, disciplinary reviews and referee assessments (and less mid-season breaks), so we need a transfer market that we can all see and appreciate.

Watch closely as this January transfer window saga unfolds. Look for real, serious signings designed to lift a club out of the doldrums. Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates get R50m a year from Vodacom. They should both be spending, given their current positions. Both coaches Steve Komphela and Eric Tinkler are under huge pressure... yet they have no say in who comes and goes.

R10m for Vilakazi, Ntshangase, Abbubaka Mobara or Mahlambi should be possible. Ndoro, Majoro, David Zulu and Ndulula should find new homes. But if certain people don’t get their cut, it won’t happen. If the right agent isn’t wandering around outside the gate with his cell phone, players will remain unhappy and unfulfilled. And so will the fans.

And we’ll end up with more mysterious moves of no-name foreigners and has-beens. 

Record-breaking transfers? Exciting last-minute deals? We can only hope. You have been warned.

Signs of improvement for Bafana: but Shaky needs to be less friendly

THE LOCAL VIEW: Mashaba arrives in Honduras
Picture: @bafanabafana

SUDDENLY, South Africa's football team is a "well-oiled machine" according to Bafana Bafana boss Shakes Mashaba. A nation "which should be among the top sides in Africa" according to Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.


My take? ALWAYS APPLAUD SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. That was my reaction to those who wrote off Bafana Bafana’s win in Costa Rica in the wee hours of Friday morning as “just another friendly”.

And that will be my reaction if national coach Ephraim Mashaba manages to rouse South Africa to a similar triumph in central America against Honduras as Tuesday becomes Wednesday at San Pedro Sula.

Yes, coach Shakes does love a friendly to hide his shortcomings in competitive games. But then we all know that. We also know he likes to pick players based on agent’s recommendations rather than the evidence of his own eyes.

We also know he got his own son to ask questions at his last major press conference in this country as we recovered from the shock of that 1-3 AFCON 2017 qualifying defeat in Mauritania. 

We know he makes dodgy substitutions when the pressure is on, I’m told his team talks are a joke and the man himself freely accepts he’s no tactical genius, “more of a motivator” in his words.

But the win against Costa Rica, a tiny nation of less than five million people, WAS significant. Though they had barely won a game since their epic progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil last year, this was on their patch, in front of 25,000 enthusiastic fans.

Remember, Bafana didn’t have a real striker in their squad. It took them two visits to the airport to actually get the impromptu two-nation CONCACAF tour underway because their US transit visas were not in order.

And then there was that abortive attempt to fly three weary Orlando Pirates - Mpho Makola,  Thamsanqa Gabuza and Thabo Matlaba - to Costa Rica via Brazil as late reinforcements.

To be frank the whole trip looked like a waste of time and effort (though not funds, apparently the CONCACAF nations are paying for the whole thing) until Andile Jali’s first half goal gave us hope of an away win against a nation ranked 42nd in the world despite their recent slump in form (they reached a high of 13th after the World Cup).

And so to Honduras. As far as I know, no reinforcements have been shipped out. Tyson Hlatshwayo has flown home after the death of his uncle. Apparently Shaky is happy to continue his crusade without a striker after the withdrawal of non-playing Bournemouth “star” Tokelo Rantie with a muscle strain (that’s another story).

We will play Honduras, a nation of just 8m, ranked 89 in the world (South Africa are currently 73) with George Lebese, Thulani Serero and Sibusiso Vilakazi pushing forward from midfield, perhaps even Kamohelo Mokotjo will join in the fun.

Another win is quite possible. Honduras reached the last World Cup but while Costa Rica won their group unbeaten and sent England and Italy home, Honduras ended bottom of their group with no points and a goal difference of -7.

If Bafana do win, expect Shaky to tell us once more how we can compete with “world-class opposition” and how we can “beat anybody on our day” and who can argue?

But then the Bafana boss must return to competitive football. On Saturday at the Rand Stadium, his home-based CHAN squad - a team of likely PSL substitutes rather than brave youngsters - begin their two-legged epic against Angola.

Then we have the two REAL games against the same nation in World Cup qualification. And, in the coming months. the prospect of home and away clashes with Cameroon where two wins are imperative to revive minuscule AFCON 2017 qualification hopes.

Those are the vital games. Friendly results against Costa Rica and Honduras will count for nothing if Shaky goes out of the World Cup and AFCON.

But if he returns from the Americas with two neat away wins in front of hostile crowds, we have to accept THERE ARE SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT.

The Shakes Mashaba verdict: One game, one mighty away win. Now for Nigeria (hopefully)

WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS CRITICISM AND OPINION. AND PRAISE

Lifting the nation: Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba

Shakes Mashaba re-started his career as South Africa’s national coach with a bang on Friday night and faces Nigeria (unless FIFA intervene) on Wednesday in Cape Town with renewed optimism surging around the country.

Chief among the praise singers? Our Sports Ministers Fikile Mbalula. I caught up with him at the ANN7 South African of the Year awards at the Sandton Convention centre on Saturday night just to check those laughing, dancing tweets he sends out are REALLY his: “No assistants, all my own work,” was his response to messages of wild congratulation to Mashaba in Sudan.

And that’s as it should be. Shakes went in to his first game pre-occupied by the fate of his AmaJitas, having engineered a path to the African Youth Championship in Senegal next year against Cameroon less than a week before taking over the big boys of Bafana.

For that reason, the questions before the game were many and varied. Players with strong European CVs like May Mahlangu, Thulani Serero and Siyanda Xulu were ignored in the coach’s new selection while Tokelo Rantie and Dean Furman, in-and-out players in the lower reaches of English football, were drafted straight in to the starting line-up.

In-form PSL players like Tsepo Masilela, Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro were left out while David Xulu and Bongani Ndulula were in. By the time Keagan Dolly and Mashaba admitted they knew next-to-nothing about Sudan or its football team, the debate was raging.

And when Kamahelo Mokotjo, playing well for FC Twente in the Dutch Ere Divisie, couldn’t even find a place on the bench, things moved up a notch.

But that’s how it should be. No national coach is immune to critique, even on debut. There's a nasty, desperate BBK column in the Sunday Times today suggesting racism is behind the questioning of some of Mashaba's decisions. Given the battle against his predecessor Gordon Igesund, that's just low-life journalism.

Yes, the build-up was lively, as you’d expect… but when Bafana hit back after a difficult first half with supersub Sbu Vilakazi scoring a brace before Ndulula added the third, general celebration ensued. Mashaba's brave decisions had become great ones. All was right in the diski world.

I said all week Sudan, ranked 115 in by FIFA, would be no match for South Africa, ranked 69. Mark Fish and I agreed a away point would be fine, but a win even better… and that’s how it turned out.

Bringing on player of the season Vilakazi of Wits for Bournemouth's Rantie proved a work of genius, Furman and Jali took control of the middle of the park and Senzo Meyiwa, who took the shirt and the armband from the injured Itumeleng Khune, was near-perfect. Oupa Manyisa, who should have started, added impetus when he came on. Shakes passed with flying colours on all his major questions.

With Nigeria in all sorts of trouble – they could be suspended from FIFA by the time you read this and “interim coach” Steve Keshi’s African Champions lost to Congo in their opening game on Saturday – but the fact remains they Super Eagles have only lost ONE and draw ONE in nine attempts against South Africa.

But Shakes is well aware of that. Blessed with an extraordinary ability to meld even an average bunch of players into a “patriotic unit”, here is his interview with SAFA after the match:  “Once we weathered the storm in the opening minutes in which they pumped long balls upfront, I knew we would achieve our goal of coming away with three points. And the boys stuck to the script.

“In the second half, we completely dominated the game and with clinical finishing, the scoreline could have been 6, 7 or 8. But the 3-0 win is quite encouraging and we need to maintain the momentum.

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“I think the entire team played well and it will be unfair to single out individuals. It was a great team effort and I think all players deserve praise.

 “We are meeting our nemesis but my gut feel is that all that all the losing to Nigeria is about to change. Wednesday should be a defining moment.”

Can’t say it any better than that, Shakes!

SOCCERBALLZ! my innovative football show on www.ballz.co.za with Mark Fish airs every Thursday from 9am-11am. See Ballz' Youtube channel for our growing library of fascinating football interviews with the big names.

You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news and read my “Neal and Pray” column every Tuesday in www.thenewage.co.za.

POOR OLD TEKO! The full-list of PSL nominations: expect Mamelodi Sundowns to dominate (and why no Golden Boot should be awarded)

Award-winning performance: Pitso Mosimane and Teko Modise

Poor old Teko Modise. After all those years of missing out on his PSL Championship medal the man who inspired Mamelodi Sundowns’ miraculous title triumph this summer finds himself left off the short-list for the PSL Footballer of the Season.

With six goals and three Man of the Match awards as Masandawana closed in and overtook faltering Kaizer Chiefs, “The General” finds himself over-looked with his captain, Dutchman Alje Schut, Wits University’s Sibusiso Vilakazi and AmaKhosi destroyer Willard Katsande the chosen three.

But he won’t mind too much. Modise has already won the award twice – when he was lighting up the midfield at Orlando Pirates in 2008 and 2009. But without him, clearly the nominations are flawed. Schut has had a great season, but he doesn’t sparkle or score visionary goals like Modise did to see off SuperSport and claim the title last Tuesday. Morgan Gould was the last defender to win it - with champions SuperSport United in 2010 - so there IS a precedent for Schut.

And though “Assault and Vinegar” Katsande has made even more crunching tackles than he’s had yellow cards, Vilakazi – with a Nedbank Cup final to come – has to be the favourite now. With eight goals from midfield, Gavin Hunt has been singing his praises all season.

PREVIOUS PSL FOOTBALLER OF THE SEASON WINNERS:

2012-13         Itumeleng Khune                  Kaizer Chiefs            GK       South Africa

2011-12         Siyabonga Nomvethe            Moroka Swallows      FW      South Africa

2010-11         Thulani Serero                     Ajax Cape Town         MF       South Africa

2009-10         Morgan Gould                       Supersport United     DF       South Africa

2008-09         Teko Modise                         Orlando Pirates          MF       South Africa

2007-08         Teko Modise                         Orlando Pirates          MF       South Africa

Then there’s the Players’ Player of the Season. Teko gets the nod for this one, voted for by his peers, along with Vilakazi and Katsande. In the Premier League, Luis Suarez did the double with both top awards this season – I guess Teko will have to accept just one, though whether his fellow professionals agree, I can’t say. Both Vilakazi and Katsande have emerged as strong contenders, but I'd offer this to Modise... his lack of fortune in leaving SuperSport (before they won three PSLs on the trot) and Orlando Pirates (before they won the two trebles) says it HAS to be Teko!

PREVIOUS PSL PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE SEASON WINNERS:

2012-13         Itumeleng Khune      Kaizer Chiefs  GK       South Africa

2011-12         Siyabonga Nomvethe           Moroka Swallows      FW      South Africa

2010-11         Thulani Serero           Ajax Cape Town         MF       South Africa

2009-10         Katlego Mphela         Mamelodi Sundowns FW      South Africa

2008-09         Teko Modise   Orlando Pirates          MF       South Africa

2007-08         Itumeleng Khune      Kaizer Chiefs  GK       South Africa

2006-07         Godfrey Sapula          Mamelodi Sundowns MF       South Africa

2005-06         Surprise Moriri           Mamelodi Sundowns MF       South Africa

2004-05         Sandile Ndlovu          Dynamos        FW      South Africa

2003-04         Tinashe Nengomasha           Kaizer Chiefs  MF       Zimbabwe

2002-03         Moeneeb Josephs     Ajax Cape Town         GK       South Africa

2001-02         Jabu Pule       Kaizer Chiefs  MF       South Africa

2000-01         Benjani Mwaruwari   Jomo Cosmos            FW      Zimbabwe

1999-00         Siyabonga Nomvethe           Kaizer Chiefs  FW      South Africa

1998-99         Roger Feutmba    Mamelodi Sundowns MF       Cameroon

1997-98         Raphael Chukwu       Mamelodi Sundowns FW      Nigeria

1996-97         Wilfred Mugeyi          Bush Bucks    FW      Zimbabwe

The Coach of the Season award sees Pitso Mosimane, Clive Barker and Stuart Baxter nominated. Clearly, Pitso’s title triumph will be the dominating factor. Sure, he’s backed by the billions of Patrice Motsepe, but Dutch master Johan Neeskens and Bristling Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov both failed to hit the top before him as Masandawana endured their seven-year drought.

Quite why Baxter, a double loser this season, gets the nod ahead of Allan Freese and Roger de Sa, I’m not sure.

Without a contract, Freese took unfashionable Platinum Stars to the MTN8 and TelkomKO finals - and won them both in his first season in charge.

De Sa took Pirates to the African Champions League final – not to mention the last hurdle of the MTN8 and TelkomKO – before decamping to Ajax. Old Dog Barker has achieved miracles at promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces after a record 35 signings this season, but the 69-year-old knows Pitso is more deserving this season.

Still, Pitso MUST win it, no matter who else is nominated.

Keagan Dolly has to be Young Player of the Season – called up (and mysteriously dropped) by Bafana Bafana, he has attracted rave reviews all season at Ajax Cape Town.

Respect is due to Hlompho Kekana, his rasper for Sundowns against Pirates in February will surely earn Goal of the Season, while last year’s all-conquering Itumeleng Khune is nominated for Goalkeeper of the Season, which could also go to Wits’ former Pirate Moeneeb Josephs. Slim Kat's penalty-saving heroics saw his side to the Nedbank Cup final, and surely Khune - injured and far from perfect this season - has won enough?

The Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot as PSL top-scorer looks destined for Bernard Parker, with a modest 10 goals. But given that he hasn’t scored – even from the spot – since February, perhaps it should be melted down and handed out again next season to a more deserving candidate.

The table below lists all top scorers, with the current 30-game format adopted in 2002. Barring miracles, Parker's tally will the the LOWEST EVER in the PSL.


PREVIOUS PSL TOP SCORERS

1996–97              Wilfred Mugeyi                22           Bush Bucks         

1997–98              Daniel Mudau                  24           Sundowns           

1998–99              Pollen Ndlanya                 21           Orlando Pirates 

1999–00              Dennis Lota                      18           Orlando Pirates  

2000–01              Gilbert Mushangazhike      19           Manning Rangers           

2001–02              Ishmael Maluleke              18           Manning Rangers           

2002–03              Lesley Manyathela            18           Orlando Pirates 

2003–04              Jackie Ledwaba                14           Zulu Royals        

2004–05              Collins Mbesuma               25           Kaizer Chiefs      

2005–06              Mame Niang                     14           Swallows             

2006–07              Chris Katongo                   15           Jomo Cosmos     

2007–08              James Chamanga               14           Swallows            

2008–09              Richard Henyekane           19           Golden Arrows   

2009–10              Katlego Mphela                17           Sundowns           

2010–11              Knowledge Musona          15           Kaizer Chiefs      

2011–12              Siyabonga Nomvethe        20           Moroka Swallows            

2012–13              Katlego Mashego             13          Moroka Swallows

2013-14              Bernard Parker                 10          Kaizer Chiefs             

The full list of 2014 nominations:

PSL Footballer of the Season

Alje Schut
Sibusiso Vilakazi
Willard Katsande

PSL Players' Player of the Season

Sibusiso Vilakazi
Teko Modise
Willard Katsande

PSL Young Player of the Season

Abbubaker Mobara
Gabadinho Mhango
Keagan Dolly

PSL Goalkeeper of the Season

Annsi Jaakkola
Itumeleng Khune
Moeneeb Josephs

PSL Goal of the Season

Hlompho Kekana
Knowledge Musona
Puleng Tlolane

PSL Coach of the Season

Clive Barker
Pitso Mosimane
Stuart Baxter

MTN8 Last Man Standing

Lennox Bacela
Robert Ng'ambi
Vuyo Mere

Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament

Lennox Bacela
Mogakolodi Ngele
Robert Ng'ambi

Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament

Jabulani Shongwe
Oupa Manyisa
Sibusiso Vilakazi

Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament

Kwanda Mngonyama
Thabo Moloi
Vincent Pule