AmaZulu are closing on the signing of former Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg goalkeeper Virgil Vries.
Vries, 31, has been training with the Usuthu for some time, having been released by Swallows FC during last season.
He arrived to be assessed by Usuthu at the same time when they announced the signing Sibusiso Mabiliso last month, with the latter seeing his contract terminated by Kaizer Chiefs be joining as a free agent.
According to Usuthu coach Brandon Truter, one assumes that if Vries didn’t arrive in the side with an injury, he would have long been signed as the coach rates him highly to provide an experienced cover in the team in case Veli Mothwa gets injured.
“Vries did his last testing this week,” said Truter at the club’s training session outside Kings Park Stadium as his side are set to face Kaizer Chiefs, Vries’ former club, in the MTN8 semi final first leg at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
“He came to us carrying an injury from his national team (Namibia) and also from Swallows as well. We had to assess that, we had to put him in a strict program and his last testing was on Monday. We are now waiting for those results before we release anything to the media.”
If Vries joins Usuthu, this will be his third club in KwaZulu-Natal. He started out at Golden Arrows, spending one season with the club in 2011/12. He then spent five seasons with Maritzburg United between 2012 until 2017.
The signing of Vries by AmaZulu will see him reunited with his former coach Truter after they worked together at Swallows, when the Dube Birds gained DStv Premiership promotion in the 2019/20 season by winning the National First Division.
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The 31-year-old was key to that side, featuring in 25 league matches on the club’s route to gain promotion. As a free agent, Vries can sign with any club of his choice even though the transfer window has been closed.
Vries would become the 11th signing at Usuthu following Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy), Rally Bwalya (Simba), Riaan, Hanamub (Chippa United), Augustine Kwem (TS Galaxy), Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates), George Maluleka (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thendo Mukumela (Cape Town Spurs), Veluyeke Zulu (Chippa United), Dumisani Zuma (Kaizer Chiefs) and Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs).
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
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