Cape Town City are looking to add another centre-back this season, with Tshepo Gumede possibly returning to the relegation-threatened club.
Gumede has been training with City since last week and the 28-year-old is being assessed by coach Jan Olde Riekerink as he looks to bolster his defensive options ahead of Friday’s home clash against Black Leopards.
The former Bafana Bafana defender was released by AmaZulu this month, having been cut from the City squad at the end of the 2017/18 season too.
He now gets a second lease on life with City short on central defensive options. Riekerink, though, says he will only sign players if they are better than the players they currently have.
Asked about his plans in the January market, the Dutchman says: “There will be opportunities [ to bring players in].
“You see a lot of teams bring players in. But they have to be better than our players.
“And they have to fit in.”
Should Gumede join, he will be the second defensive addition by City since the week they fired Benni McCarthy, with Greek centreback Ioannis Poutoridis joining in November.
Benni McCarthy. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
Riekerink, meanwhile, is also excited by the prospect of versatile defender Abbubaker Mobara returning to fitness after damaging ankle ligaments in September.
Of Mobara, he adds: “I’ve heard fantastic stories about him. He should be able to play sometime in February and I will be very happy."