AmaZulu are set to hand veteran defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele a new contract in the coming days after an impressive showing with the KwaZulu-Natal side.
Mphahlele joined Usuthu as a free agent after he was let go by Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last term to bolster their defence following the departure of Thapelo Xoki to Orlando Pirates.
This publication understands, the 32-year-old, who can play across the back four, initially signed a one-year deal with Usuthu, even though the club did not reveal the length of his contract.
But the club don’t want to wait for too long before he can be poached from elsewhere in January, as they need they see him as an important part of the squad since he has done well so far.
“AmaZulu are set to reward Mphahlele with a new deal because the club feel he has done well since he joined in August,” a source told iDiski Times.
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Mphahlele was brought in by Usuthu to bring stability and experience in the defence, and has featured in 14 matches in all competitions this season for the club, forming a good combination with Abbubaker Mobara at the back.
Mphahlele was a key as Usuthu reached the MTN8 final, only to lose to Pirates early last month at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
However, Mphahlele left the field early in that game after coming together with Richard Ofori and was substituted in the 32nd minute and replaced by Mbongeni Gumede. The club official said he spent a few days in hospital, with the defender being the second player at Usuthu to have collided with Ofori after Lehlohonolo Majoro was also involved in another collision with Ghanaian goalie in October’s league match.
Mphahlele, because of the injury, then missed the Carling Black Label Cup, where he was voted by the fans to feature in the side and was replaced by Veluyeke Zulu.
The former Bafana Bafana right-back has since confirmed that he is back to training for Usuthu as the club prepare for the resumption of the season against Sekhukhune United on 31 December after the FIFA World Cup break
“I’m happy to be back with the boys training, you know, obviously after what happened after the MTN8 final with the freak injury,” Mphahlele said on the Usuthu website.
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“I am okay now. I am just looking forward to the so-called mini pre-season, so we can prepare for our next game against Sekhukhune.”
