AmaZulu have not decided on the futures of duo Thabo Qalinge and Hendrick Ekstein beyond this season.
But club president Sandile Zungu says they will hold talks with both players at the end of the season after both were frozen out in the first half of the campaign by coach Brandon Truter.
However, both players were given a lifeline by Truter’s replacement, Romain Folz, who was told that they are two senior players who were training with the reserve side before he can look elsewhere for signing new players in the January transfer window.
That’s what Folz did in giving the duo chances and both players have taken them, especially Ekstein, who has rewarded the former Marumo Gallants coach with a good return of performances.
Both players’ futures will be under discussions because they are out of the contract in June, as their current deals will expire at the end of the season.
While AmaZulu have decided that Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Keagan Buchanan will leave the club at the end of the campaign, and Lehlohonolo Majoro was let go with immediate effect, Qalinge and Ekstein futures will be decided after the season is over.
“We will see about them, but I’m not going to commit myself and tell you what will happen at the end of the season,” Zungu told iDiski Times.
“Those who have contracts and that are up for renewal, we will assess at the end of the season.”
Qalinge, since Folz gave him a second chance in the club, has featured in eight matches, scoring one goal.
The former Orlando Pirates winger joined Usuthu in the second half of the 2020/21 season after he was released by SuperSport United. He would be remembered for scoring a vital goal in the dying minutes against Stellenbosch FC away that went a long way to see the club finish second in the DStv Premiership season under Benni McCarthy, the club’s highest finish in the PSL era.
Ekstein was signed by McCarthy at the beginning of last term, as the now Manchester United Forwards Coach was looking for creativity in the final third since the club had qualified for the CAF Champions League.
But he struggled to breakthrough at Usuthu, resulting in him being frozen out by Truter, who had replaced McCarthy in March last year.
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Since the former Kaizer Chiefs winger had his fortune changed by Folz, has not put a foot wrong, featuring in 11 matches, with a return of one goal, since the season resumed.
