Cape Town City have made a decision over the future of veteran midfielder Mpho Makola. There was uncertainty over the future of Makola, who turned 36 earlier this month, after his two-month ban from all football activities.
The former Orlando Pirates star was sanctioned for pushing assistant referee Cladwin Baloyi in the Citizens’ MTN8 final loss to Mamelodi Sundowns last October. The ban came a few months before the expiry of his contract [in June], and it was unclear whether the club would extend after two months on the sidelines.
However, FARPost can reveal that Makola will be with the Cape Town club for a further year. “He has signed an extension, and an announcement should be made soon,” a club source said.
He remains an integral part of Eric Tinkler’s side that enjoyed a fairytale run this year, going 14 games unbeaten in the second round of the league. On Saturday, they suffered their first loss when Stellenbosch beat them 1-0 in the Cape Town Derby.
Makola has made 65 appearances for the club and scored three goals since joining from Pirates in 2019. His experience is expected to come in handy for the youthful squad.
Meanwhile, the Citizens are expected to part ways with goalkeeper Bongani Mpandle who struggled for game time since joining from Maritzburg United at the beginning of the season. The 29-year-old goal minder failed to establish himself as one of the regular starters for Tinkler’s side, with no appearance under his name in City’s colours.
Hugo Marques has had an excellent maiden season, being crowned the club’s Player of the Season on Saturday and also a frontrunner for the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season Award. Earlier this month, he signed a new one-year contract. Mpandle still has Darren Keet ahead of him in the pecking order.
