Menzi Magubane
Mamelodi Sundowns latest signing shows their dominance exceeds local borders by being able to attract international talent.
Their big signing is the Chilean young midfielder Marcelo Allende. Masandawana broke the transfer record fee after paying R51 million to acquire the 3-year services of the 23-year-old.
No South African team has ever forked out this high of an amount on any player and it doesn’t look like there will be anyone to match Downs anytime soon.
Having the power to attract talented players from abroad could improve the league as a whole in several ways.
The Chilean could bring with him a different audience to the league as the people back home will want to keep an eye on him.
If he does well and enjoys life in the DStv Premiership, it could pave the way for other international players to follow suit.
Although the signing massively improves the best team in the league, the league itself stands to benefit.
Sundowns has been dominating the Premiership since Pitso Mosimane took over the coaching role in 2012.
Even after he left in 2020, co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena and Steve Komphela continued where he left off.
Overall Sundowns have won 25 trophies including 12 league titles, since the formation of the Premier Soccer League (PSL)
Even during the transfer window they have been dominant, signing the likes of Jose Torrealba , Leonardo Castro, Keagan Dolly, Themba Zwane, Andile Jali, Peter Shalulile and Percy Tau, just to name a few.
They also became the first South African team to sign a Moroccan player. Last week they signed 24-year-old centre-back Abdelmounaim Boutouil.
Who would have thought that a Moroccan player would join Mzansi’s league after the premiership and the country’s football has been criticised for not being of high standard.
Image source: @iDiskiTimes
