R8m Magoola up for grabs as Chiefs and Pirates wrestle each other for his services.
With Kaizer Chiefs rumoured to be letting got of Bruce Bvuma and while veteran Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is not guaranteed a new contract news has resurfaced that Kaizer Chiefs might sign Richards Bay FC Goalkeeper Salim Magoola who has been on fine form this season.
Salim Magoola hasn’t taken long to get recognition in local football and it might not take long for him to join one of the big clubs in the DStv Premiership, the Siya crew understands, while also still being in pursuit of emulating countryman Denis Onyango in writing his name in the history books of Mzansi football.
The Richards Bay FC goalkeeper has been one of the key players for the side in what has been a decent first season in the elite league until the latter stages of the campaign where apparent loss of form has crept in.
With 2022/23 left with four rounds of fixtures for most clubs, he’s one of the names expected to headline the August/September transfer window, this according to sources in the know. The shot-stopper is believed to be on the radar of a few clubs, with
the race for Salim Jamal Magoola’s services, and in so doing, have joined their perennial rivals Kaizer Chiefs in pursuit of his signature.
In January this year, the Siya crew first reported or the interest from Amakhosi in the eeger, who had kept 11 clean sheets from 18 matches at the time. The player is on a two- year contract at Richards Bay, which he signed last year on arrival from Pretoria Callies Therefore, at the end of the current campaign, he will be left with one year of the deal, with an option to extend. At the time of his signing, Magoola was relatively unknown in Mzansi which explains why the KZN club was reluctant to offer him a long-term deal.
The club is now willing to sell
What are the facts?
the bulky net-minder to avoid the rise of losing him on a free when his contract ends on 30 June 2024 Having realised their mistake of tying the star on a short-term deal the club Innows the best option would be to sell him in order to be left with something in the form of cash as compensation if he leaves.
in Salim Magnola us the elab won’t stand in the player’s way is currently looking for as apart from being a top football goalkeeper Something might person, he is also a father-figure happen at the end of the season whos all about eving employees regarding a possible next move opportunities for the player because Chiefs is possibly leaving, but as you been doing well for the team, but Watch the space!
The chairman sees Salim as one of his prized assets.
“He is one player who is in is a national team player and demand, I won’t lie to you, is still 27.
The story behind the scenes
Pirates with edge in Magoola’s chase?
both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates understood to be chasing his signature, There is a big-money buyout clause on the 27-year-old’s contract, according to sources, which means that any of the potential suitors will have to be prepared to break the bank to secure his signature.
There is a tricky situation though for the Natal Rich Boyz, as the Ugandan international is not on a long-term deal, and could soon leave on a free if potential suitors get scared off by his price tag and opt to buy time for when he becomes available. Will the ambitious club do everything in their power to hold on to one of their prized assets, or will they choose to cash in on him even if it means lowering the asking price for him? The Siya crew investigates!
know, in football everyone has their price the source added Richards Bay have tried, without success so far, so informant. persuade Magoola into extending There’s a buyout clause of his deal, which might be an indication that the player has his mind made up about leaving for greener pastures Indications are that the eth’s ambitious “Pirates do have an interest chairman, Sfiso Jomo’ Byela
that won’t make the chairman to stand in his way, he isn’t someone like that noted the source.
million, from what I understand therefore the contrman won’t be left empty-harded if the player leaves in the next transfer window. It’s Chiefs and Pirates. (who are interested in the player),” the mole revealed. Depending on the negotiations between parties, the R8 million buyout clause could for growth. be a stumbling block between Magoola leaving or staying for the last year of his entraet However, the two Soweto giants are known for their good negotiating skills when it comes to player transfers, with both clubs having also done bayness with Richards Bay in the past.
It’s been widely reported that the Baccaneers are in search of a goalkeeper to add to the squad for next season and different names of players have been banded about in the last few weeks as the club’s options.
The club currently has twe of their experienced goalkeepers, in Richard Ofort and Siyabonga Mpontshane, yet to be confirmed as having signed contract extensions. Both players have their deals coming to an end in June, according to the information known to Soccer Laduma.
Meanwhile, Pirates have built up a good relationship with Richards Bay in recent years, which could place them in a favourable position to land Magoola, as things stand. The the current campaign, the Houghton based outfit has midfielder Nkanyiso Zungu on inan at the Natal Rich Boys, while there have bren deals in the past involving the two clubs, including that af Sandile Mthethwa who has hat different stints on loan at the KZN side.
Zungu could be used as sweetener to lure Magoola to Bucs in a players-plus-cash deal, depending on the negotiations. Based on his comment about Zungu in edition 15091 of Soccer Laduma. Richards Bay coach Vasili Manotasis rates Zungu highly and is willing to revive his career.
The menter said, “You know, the first thing that captured me is Els work-rate. When we did the tests with the gays on the athletics tracks, the first person I wanted to look at was Zungu.
I called him and of course 1 Anew who he was because I had seen him at Stellenbosch FC and I had seen a little bit of him at (Orlando) Pirates, and I asked him what happened. He told me that be lost his way and said he went into such a deep dark place. He said he was ready to start all over again and get out of that dark pince. He was out of shape, but what was encouraging was his willingness to work hard in order to get tir ast. He was overweight. But I was happy to see the transformation in him as the weeks went by, his weight loss, his attitude, and I said to myself.
This guy is special ‘I don’t se many number eights in the PSL with a left foot that he’s got, the pass that he’s got and the eye for that special pass. That guy has got all the qualities of a top footballer and I said to myself sometimes that’s what the player needs -to be given a second chance. If they ship you’ve got to help them to stand up again.
End in sight for Chiefs-Khune
While he’s proven every time he has been given a chance to play that form is temporary but class is permanent, Itumeleng Khune has appeared to be facing an uncertain future with the Glamour Boys, with injuries having also played a role in derailing his progress.
The veteran, who’ll be turning 36 in June, will we his contract expire at the end of the same month and the club has not yet iniicated if it will be extended.
Indications have been that Mzansi’s former number one could be affected by the changes likely to take place at the club- as seen in recent sesaces when the likes of Bernard Parker, Willard Katsande and uthers were allowed to leave after years of loyal service. With Magoola among their targets, the Naturena-based outfit could use Austin Dube, whom they signed from Richards Bay in 2021 but has struggled for game-time, as part of the deal to sign the highly-rated goalkeeper.
In just a few months in the professional ranks in Maanxi Magoola has managed to prove his worth and show why he’s a Ugandan national team player. For a very long time this sesson, he’s arguably been the team’s best player based on his number. After only 12 rounds of fixtures, he had nine cleat sheets and was one of the key players as Richards Bay soowed that they were not in.
conceded just six goals, with three of those from the same match the thrilling 3-3 draw against Chippa United. For the better part of the first half of the campaign, the side occupied second place on the log, and the top light to just add numbers. With those Magnola was ure of the reasons for such a William.
impressive statistics, he equalled Onyango’s record, who had achieved the same feat in The player’s progress impressed ex-Piraten 2020/21 with the Brazilians.
coach Milutin Sredojevic, the Ugandan After 14 counts of fixtures. Magoola had national team coach, who rewarded the net minder with a re-call to the Cranes which was for the first time he returned to the fold since 2021. With five matches remaining for the Natal Rich Boys, Magola is on t clean sheets second on the charts to Ronwen Williams.
The Siya crew spoke to a top agent in SA to get their expert understanding on what’s going on. For obvious reasons, the agent will remain anonymous.
“Richards Bay are in a tight corner in this situation because the player is not on a long-term contract and the only option would be to sell him bow 88 any failure to do so could lead to the club losing him on a free. They should have tied tm on long-term contract, but It sounds like they were not sure.
About him at the time With inter est from the league’s big guns.
It’s going to be difficult for his club to convince him otherwise, especially If he is the one who wants to leave for greener pastures. At this stage of his career, the player won’t want to let the opportunity slap and as his agent I would advise him to go.
for the best possible deal. But he’s got age on his side and he can af ford to play for use more season at Richards Bay and move at the end of next season. I think the club will be willing to listen to offers for m and cash in on him-that would be the best thing to do for all the par ties in a situation like this.
is believed to be wanting out und keen on a return to KZN where he enjoyed his football and was a regular. Chiels, meanwhile, are said to be open to granting him his wish.
Watch This Space At the end of the in the first round of the campaign, season, Richards Bay Biyela may decide that he doesn will be left with few op want to lose any of the team’s in- tions with regards to decid- uential players in preparing f ing what they need to do with the new season. However, if the Magoola and the interest being figures mentioned to sell him for shown in his services.
As club are anything to go by, the ambi- chatman, Biyela has shown over tous boss cght be tempted to sell the years that he wants the best and look for a replacement goal- for fus elus and the decision be keeper for next season. For now will be making on the player will the KZN outfit is in control of be the best one for the team After the situation, but in lanceret good first season in the topfight year, that could change.
