Sundowns’ foreign quota full

It has emerged that even if Epac FC marksman Ishmail Thindwa makes the grade at South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Mamelodi Sundowns, he will be ineligible to play this season as their foreign quota is already full.

The current TNM Super League leading scorer is on trials at the Pretoria-based side after being recommended by Flames legend Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali.

Sundowns have used up their foreign quota for the season, and depending on how Thindwa performs during the trial, he could only be a talent for the future.

PSL teams are allowed to register five foreign players and Sundowns have six in Method Mwanjali, Elias Pelembe, Dennis Onyango, Solomon Okpako, Simba Sithole and Nyasha Mushekwi.

There are also no indications that the club might release any of their big-name foreign players to accommodate Thindwa. Already, Onyango is not registered due to the full quota.

Apart from Thindwa, Sundowns are also reported to be interested in signing Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Baffour.

But other reports indicate that should Thindwa impress, he could be signed for Sundowns’ reserve side Atlie FC which plays in the National First Division (NFD).

Atlie are currently 14th on the NFD’s 16-team log table.

But Mtawali insisted that a decision on Thindwa will be made after the trials.

“I am guided by the club’s code of conduct and, as such, I am not supposed to comment on its behalf, but let us cross the bridge when we reach it,” said Mtawali.