It may take some time for AmaZulu fans to see their new striker Victorien Adebayor, according to Usuthu coach Pablo Franco Martin.
The former RSB Berkane striker cannot travel to South Africa due to a coup in his home country in Niger, which has led to the travelling becoming an issue.
At the same time, Adebayor cannot obtain his visa because of the coup and coach Martin lamented about that after they started the league with two goalless draws.
“We signed a striker but he’s waiting for his visa to be issued,” said Martin.
While Martin did not say which player he was talking about, iDiski Times investigated and was told that it was Adebayor due to the coup.
Adebayor, who won the CAF Super Cup last season with Berkane, was signed by Usuthu alongside Celimpilo Ngema, Victor Letsoalo, Rowan Human, Wayde Jooste, Andile Mbwanjwa and Mfanafuthi Mkhize.
The coup in Niger started on 26 July and has led to the border and airspace closures that have cut off supplies of medicine and food, hampering humanitarian aid in one of the world’s poorest countries in West Africa.
Niger currently hosts US, French, German and Italian troops under agreement made with the now-deposed civilian government.
But Usuthu looked good against SuperSport despite Thembela Sikhakhane having been sent off for a stamp on the exciting winger Shandre Campbell in the first half.
Despite being a man down, Usuthu were the better of the two sides in the second half after a bit of adjustments made by Martin, with Ramahlwe Mphahlele seeing a header tipped away by Ricardo Goss and the follow up by Bongi Ntuli rattling the woodwork.
“The team showed great fighting spirit against an amazing team, one of the best teams in the league with one man [less] for 70 minutes,” added Martin.
“We were much better than them but I think in the 20 minutes we couldn’t play the game we wanted.”
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Usuthu next host Richards Bay at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 19 August (17:30).
