Moorosi Tsiane

BANTU president Leuta Leuta says they have given South African National First Division (NFD) outfit Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) until today (Sunday) to decide on whether or not they want to sign their defender Motlomelo Mkhwanazi.

The two teams have been in negotiation for the player’s services since last month after TTM expressed interest in his services but until Friday, nothing had been finalised.

Leuta told the Sunday Express on Friday that they (Bantu management) were supposed to meet and finalise the deal with TTM last week but failed because the Limpopo outfit’s president was away and could not travel to Lesotho.

“We were supposed to have met this week (last week) but I got a message on Wednesday that their president was not around so he couldn’t come to Lesotho and up to today, until today (Friday) nothing has been finalised,” Leuta said.

“We drafted the contracted and they returned it. We also made some changes and they said they were happy so what is left now is for both parties to just sign the papers for the deal to be effected.”

However, Leuta said he has also told TTM that once Bantu re-opens for the pre-season (tomorrow) things would change because they also need time to find Mkhwanazi’s replacement.

“We are opening for pre-season on Monday and I have told TTM that they have until the end of this week to finalise the deal, otherwise things will change because we also need to know what is happening so that we can find a replacement early.

“The last time I checked, the player was visiting his family in Welkom and has also been called into the national team for CHAN preparations. So, I don’t understand why they are moving so slowly in finalising the deal because most SA teams have long re-opened for their pre-season,” Leuta said.

According to sources close to the happenings, Mkhwanazi already has the contract and what is left is for Bantu to agree with TTM and the player will leave for Limpopo.

“The player has agreed on terms with TTM. What is left now is for the two teams to agree on the transfers then Mkhwanazi will join TTM when they open for the pre-season,” the source said.

Kabila, as Mkhwanazi is popularly known in football circles, was an important member of the Bantu defence in his first season in A Matšo Matebele colours. He made a formidable pair with Tsietsi Khooa which saw Bantu conceding just 11 goals in 26 matches, the least in the premiership in the 2018/19.