Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has confirmed that they have parted ways with Lungelo Bhengu, Bonginkosi Makume and Keegan Ritchie.
Mogamad De Goede, who joined the club in the second half of last season from Stellenbosch FC, is still part of the club but possibilities of him staying are slim.
All these players did not feature in the KZN Premier’s Cup during pre-season, leading question marks whether they are part of the team or not.
New coach Zipho Dlangalala was told he can’t count on the players who were not in the pre-season tournament, with Genino Palace and Thabo Moloisane having since joined Stellenbosch FC, while Roman Human has moved to AmaZulu alongside Wayde Jooste.
Maritzburg, who was relegated via the PSL play-offs, were left bare bones after the departure of coach Fadlu Davids, but quickly put the team together to feature in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
“Bhengu and Makume, we have released them,” Kadodia told iDiski Times.
“They can join any club of their choice. De Geode, he has not been released yet because he is still contracted with us, and Ritchie’s contract was finished and we didn’t extend his contract.”
The Team of Choice, who also released Siboniso Conco and Friday Samu and then recalled them back, have since signed former Orlando Pirates defender Tshepo Gumede, who coach Dlangalala knows well.
The other players signed by Maritzburg were Joslin Kamatuka, Dumisani Msibi, Xolani Slawula, Samkelo Jali, Leletu Skelem, Sanele Gaxa and Zukile Kewuthi.
Others who left were Amadou Soukouna, Brandon Theron, Bradley Cross, Karim Kimvuidi, Renaldo Leaner, King Ndlovu, Travis Graham, Jose Ali Meza as well as Kwame Peprah and Tebogo Tlolane, who were both on loan from Pirates.
Despite all the squad changes, though, Maritzburg have not shown signs of being demoralised, winning one and drawing the other to lie fourth in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with four points.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
