Cape Town Spurs head coach Shaun Bartlett has confirmed the signing of a Mamelodi Sundowns defender on a season-long loan.
The newly-promoted side has had a lousy start to the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season, losing their first two games. They suffered two defeats at the hands of Sekhukhune United and TS Galaxy.
Their start prompted questions about the composition of their squad, to which they have responded with yet another addition to Shaun Bartlett’s disposal.
CAPE TOWN SPURS SIGN SUNDOWNS DEFENDER ON LOAN
CT Spurs have signed right-back Nicholus Lukhubeni on a season-long loan from the Brazilians. He joins two other Sundowns loanees, Luvuyo Phewa and Siyanda Msani, who’re also part of the CTSpurs set-up this season.
The dynamic defender Lukhubeni spent last season on loan at Moroka Swallows, where he racked up 25 appearances. He was not drafted into the plans of his parent club, Sundowns, after he returned to Chloorkop at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
The Dube Birds were keen to retain the player on loan or permanently, however, couldn’t reach an agreement with Sundowns.
The Downs graduate has gotten accustomed to going out on loan as he’s had spells with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila [TTM], Maritzburg United and Sekhukhune United. Now, Lukhubeni has been training with Bartlett’s troops at Ikamva, and the Urban Warriors confirmed his addition.
‘HE’LL ADD MORE VALUE’
“Lukhubeni is a seasoned professional that has Premiership experience. And we hope he will add more value to our squad,” Bartlett told FARPost.
“Good full-back with attacking abilities as well as defensive traits too. The loan is part of [Luvuyo] Phewa and [Siyanda] Msani.”
Bartlett feels losing the first two games doesn’t mean they don’t have enough in their squad to compete in the top-flight.
“I do not necessarily feel we have to dip into the market as the players just need to regain the belief and trust that we can do this and compete at this level,” he stated.
“Two games into the season, and nobody said it was going to be easy to play at this level. Our work starts now on the training ground as we look to restore our dignity and continue fighting for everything on offer.”
CT Spurs will be aiming for their first victory of the season when they square off with Polokwane City on Saturday, 19 August, at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Story by Joshua Hendricks
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