Two more acquisitions to bolster Chippa

Chippa United have added two more players to their squad with the acquisition of Siphelo Baloni from Orlando Pirates and Tanzania international Gabriel Michael from Cape Town Spurs, the club announced on Monday.

They are added to the new nine players who the Eastern Cape club had already brought in at the start of the pre-season, and could be in line to start on Wednesday when Chippa make a belated kick-off to the new Betway Premership campaign with an away game at Pirates.

Baloni made his Pirates debut in a deep midfield role against Mamelodi Sundowns last September but after two more starts was dropped and only featured as an occasional substitute thereafter.

The 24-year-old had joined the Buccaneers from All Stars this time last year.

Michael was among several new signings that relegation-threatened Spurs bought in the January transfer window in what proved an unsuccessful bid to save their top-flight status.

But the Tanzanian left back did impress with his hard running and set-piece ability as Spurs made a gallant effort to stay up.

Chippa have already signed Thobani Jacobs, Andile Jali, Samkelo Jali (Durban City), Boy Madigwane, Sifiso Mazibuko (Jomo Cosmos), Seun Ndlovu (Kruger United),  Giovanni Philander (FN Rangers), Xolani Sithole (Pretoria Callies) and Aphelele Teto on loan from Livingston in Scotland.