Pretoria Callies bid farewell to six familiar faces in squad reshuffle
The winds of change are swirling around Pretoria Callies as the Motsepe Foundation Championship club confirmed the amicable departure of six players from their ranks.
Callies started the season under the tutelage of Kwanele Kopo before replacing him with Bushy Moloi at the start of November.
Facing pressure after seven draws and three losses in 10 games, Kopo stepped down at the helm of Pretoria Callies. They were languishing at the bottom of the second tier at the time with a meagre seven points.
Under Moloi, they have managed to move up the table a few places. After 17 games, they are in position 13 with 17 points. They are still unsafe from the chop as they are just a point ahead of Venda Football Club, who are at the basement.
And Callies have seen it fit to reshuffle their squad ahead of the January 2024 transfer window.
WHO ARE THE SIX PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY PRETORIA CALLIES?
Former Maritzburg United centre-back Riyaaz Ismail leaves the club after spending 18 months. Alongside him departs left-back Felix Noge, who joined the club two years ago as a free agent.
There are three departures in midfield where Lindokuhle Dhladhla, Ngunezi Mkhize, and Boysen Mbatha are all leaving.
The sixth departure is Bhongo Lawana, a former youth international defender who cut his football teeth at SuperSport United.
The club’s chairman, Moses Malada, insisted the underlying sentiment was mutual respect and well-wishes for the future.
“While we are undoubtedly sad to see these players leave, we wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Their contributions to the club will not be forgotten, and we have no doubt they will continue to excel wherever they go.”
The club looks set to reinforce their squad during the January transfer window. They play their next league match on 14 February 2024 after the AFCON break.
That match will be against Black Leopards.
Callies will also have the Nedbank Cup to focus on after booking a place in Round 32 by beating Magesi 1-0.
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