Why Divine Lunga’s Sundowns future looks increasingly uncertain

Despite a decent finish last season, in which Devine Lunga was deployed on the left side of the central defence, his Mamelodi Sundowns’ future is far from certain. The Zimbabwe international defender made 12 appearances [out of a possible 48] across all competitions last season for Sundowns. Nine of those came in the DStv Premiership, two in the Nedbank Cup and one in the MTN8 Cup. He was never fielded for a CAF Champions League match.

Here’s why he could be sacrificed ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Exceeded foreign quota 

The Brazilians desperately need to create space for new foreign signings after exhausting their quota. The trio of Chile international midfielder Marcelo Allende, Ethiopia striker Abubeker Nassir and Moroccan defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil have all arrived. They add to an already long list of foreigners at the club, which includes Pavol Safranko, Erwin Saavedra, Lunga, Gaston Sirino and Peter Shalulile, who do not hold permanent residency status.
Of course, the Uruguayan, Sirino, and reigning Footballer of the Season, Shalulile, are eligible to obtain permanent residency after spending more than five years living and working in South Africa. Still, if Sirino and Shalulile are granted permanent residency status, the coming in of the trio means they still need to shed off one person.

Sifiso Ngobeni return

In a bit of a queer situation, the Zimbabwe international was not training with the team earlier this week while returnee left-back Ngobeni, who spent last season at SuperSport, was hard at work training. 

In search of game time, the 25-year-old Ngobeni switched to Matsatsantsa on deadline day last year after only featuring twice for the reigning DStv Premiership champions since signing from Bloemfontein Celtic in July 2021. 

Sundowns’ co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi is on record as saying a stint at their crosstown rivals would prepare him for his next level.

“We felt that for his development pathway, it’s very important that he gets some game time because he did not get as many matches in the first round of the season. That concerns us because we believe that he has a lot to give to the club, but the expectations of the club at times can be challenging. When you consider in that list of players he is competing with, he’s got a Lyle Lakay, a Divine Lunga and Aubrey Modiba. 

“It becomes tough for a youngster like him to crack it, but we believe he has a bright future and will come back and help us. Maybe working with Kaitano will toughen him up, and he will come back ready to compete and fight for his place,” Mngqithi told the media.

With Ngobeni likely to stay and Lakay and Modiba available, Downs could sacrifice Lunga in that position.

The arrival of Nascimento’s replacement

Further complicating his matter is that a left-footed centre-back Chabab Mohammedia has arrived. The Moroccan defender reportedly signed a five-year deal at Chloorkop, ending the search for a left-footed central defender. The 24-year-old Mohammedia is seemingly a direct replacement for Ricardo Nascimento, who joined Royal AM in a shock move in January.

“Divine Lunga has done exceptionally well, which is expected of him. When we brought him here, we brought him here with the mentality of playing him as a full-back or a left centre-back, and he’s come in handy and done exceptionally well in the matches he’s played.

“But that still does not change the fact that we are still looking for another left-footed centre-back because that’s an area where we lost Ricardo Nascimento. On the right, we’re safe with Brian [Onyango], Rushine De Reuck and Grant [Kekana].

“So on the left, we only have Mosa and half of Divine in that space, so it would be nice to get two left-footed centre-backs, but when we’re looking for the best quality we can get, one would be enough,” Mngqithi told the media towards the end of last season.

Not eligible for permanent residency

Unlike Brian Onyango, Denis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene, the 27-year-old defender is not yet eligible for permanent residency. The Warriors defender arrived in South Africa in 2018 after signing for Golden Arrows from Bulawayo side Chicken Inn. 

It means he will only be eligible for it later next year, which makes his situation a little tricky. If Sundowns could register him as a local, that would have meant one less foreign man. 

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