June 25, 2008
He was acclaimed the goal-scoring scourge of all opposing PSL defenders after sensationally scoring a record 35 goals for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2004-5 season and being named South Africa’s “Footballer of the Year”.
Sturdy, 24 year-old Zambian Collins Mbesuma has hardly set the soccer world alight since then during seasons in the English, Portuguese and Turkish Leagues, but understandably this has not stopped Chiefs and rival PSL giants Mamelodi Sundowns viewing the imposing striker as a potential major capture for the coming season.
Fifa-accrediated agent and former Orlando Pirates coach Mike Makaab, who handles Mbesuma’s affairs, on Tuesday confirmed that both Chiefs and Sundowns had expressed an interest in signing the Zambian international -and the seeds may well have been sown for another intense, high-profiled transfer war between the two ambitious clubs.
“Mind you,” added Makaab, “there is no certainty at this stage that Collins will be returning to play in the PSL. But he is due back in South Africa within a week and we’ll examine all the possibilities regarding his future.”
If it turns out to be a transfer battle between Sundowns and Chiefs for Mbesuma’s services, it is an intriguing development that Ted Dumitru, the coach of Amakhosi when Mbesuma was running rampant in the PSL, is now the newly-appointed technical director of Sundowns.
He was born to score goals;The Mpatamatu born & bred is still clubless but options are there-The Amakhosi or The Brazilians.
And while it was the lure of fame and fortune overseas that initially resulted in Mbesuma signing for English Premiership club Portsmouth, the money issue which at the time made it exorbitant for any South African club to make a counter offer, is now no longer the major issue it was at the time.
For one thing, Sundowns billionaire owner Patrice Motsepe is behaving like a mini-Roman Abramovitch and throwing around money on securing players like Bafana international Sibusiso Zuma as though it has gone out of fashion – and, for another, Mbesuma’s value on the transfer market may have decreased noticably since it peaked in 2005.
“Still,” pointed out Makaab, “he is only 24 and he was plagued by injuries while playing for Turkey’s Bursaspor last season. He never really settled down with Portsmouth in the Premiership, but he made an impact with Madeira’s Maritimo and received an award as ‘Player of the Month’ in the Portuguese First Division.”
And so the battle lines are seemingly being drawn. Chiefs might be viewing having a juicy striking tandem of Mbesuma and Venezualen international Jose Torealba next season – while Sundowns could be just as intent on pairng Mbesuma for what could be a devastating partnership with Zuma.
[Supersport Zone]
43 Comments on "Sundowns, Chiefs eye Mbesuma"
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Anonymous on Thu, 26th Jun 2008 7:53 AM
Big Steve from SA says:
I guess this is good for him. A third attempt at geting his career back on track. lets hope he gets into this level headed this time and not place himself in the stardom realm. truthfully speaking his talent is bigger than the PSL but how he handles it is what determines how far he can take it.