As we’re about to enter the second half of the Betway Premiership season, champions Mamelodi Sundowns will be the happiest with the business they have concluded during the January transfer window so far.
Sitting two points behind league leaders Orlando Pirates, Sundowns have shown their hand in the market. They mean business and have no intention of surrendering the title they have held for the last eight years.
The deals to bring in Colombian striker Brayan Leon, Bafana Bafana defender Khulumani Ndamane and Orlando Pirates winger Monnapule Saleng are a massive statement. They have strengthened both attack and defence and should now be seen as favourites in the title race.
Pirates, too, have been busy. However, there is a sense that their activity in the transfer market has been largely reactive following the departure of Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who has moved abroad to join Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
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They have added a striker and left winger in New Zealander Andre de Jong and Zimbabwean Daniel Msendani, as well as defender Mpho Chabatsane.
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made it clear how important a left-footed centre back is to his plans. Since Mbokazi’s exit, it became imperative for the club to replace him, and the highly rated 23-year-old Chabatsane appears to have been signed to fill the sizeable void left behind.
Sitting in fourth place in the Betway Premiership, just two points behind Sundowns and four behind Pirates, are Kaizer Chiefs. While the two clubs above them have acted decisively in preparation for what promises to be a tight title race, Chiefs have remained quiet.
Chiefs have not been entirely inactive behind the scenes. The club made an effort to secure the services of highly rated winger Puso Dithejane, but those plans were ultimately derailed when the player opted to take up an offer from Chicago Fire. It was a blow for Amakhosi, who had identified Dithejane as a key addition, and his decision to move abroad has only reinforced the sense that opportunities are slipping away as rivals continue to strengthen.
That silence is becoming increasingly deafening. With the second half of the campaign looming and rivals sharpening their squads, Amakhosi face a defining moment: act decisively and reassert themselves as genuine contenders, or risk watching the championship race pull away. In a Betway Premiership shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years, hesitation in the transfer market could prove to be the most expensive decision of all.
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