Tembo happy with MDC graduate progress

SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo is happy with the progress of youngsters Mpho Mathebula and Keenan Phillips who recently joined the club.

The duo joined Matsatsantsa A Pitori from now-defunct Bidvest Wits following impressive displays last season which saw Wits dominating the Multichoice Diski Challenge.

Tembo had said that they do not have the big financial muscle, so this season they will mostly rely on the youngsters which he assured would not spend their season on the stands.

”Our MDC team is going to be very key for us going forward, ” Tembo said.

“We have few new players George Chigova, Iqraam Rayners and two promising youngsters that we got from Wits Diski team (Phillips and Mathebula).

"They are gelling with the team, although it might take time for them to get going, we are happy with their progress at the moment.

SuperSport have not been active in the transfer window as they have only signed four players.

Tembo explained that they will not go all out, but will give young players the chance to prove themselves.

In his squad, Tembo now has four players who were playing in the Multichoice Diski Challenge last season, the duo from Wits, as well as Gape Moralo and Oswin Appollis.

“We do not have a bigger budget to spend on the market. We will bring in younger players, give opportunities to them, give them that responsibility to see if they can carry the team forward. We can only know when you give them that opportunity to play,” Tembo explained.

Cape Town City FC, Stellenbosch FC and TS Sporting are other clubs who have roped in Diski Challenge graduates who excelled last season.

Stellenbosch signed another former Wits star, Solly Khunyedi.

“Pen to paper and it's a done deal. It is with great pleasure that the club welcomes its latest acquisition in the successful signing of Solly Khunyedi."

A quartet of Malik Mashinini, Kabelo Makola, Deon Horn and Leathan Croats, also from Wits Diski team, joined GladAfrica Championship side TS Sporting.

Cape Town City signed Sanele Gaxa from the AmaZulu Diski Challenge team, the club said: “Cape Town City is delighted to announce the acquisition of Sanele Gaxa. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder signs a four-year deal, joining City from AmaZulu after an exceptional season in the MDC.”