A Kaizer Chiefs-linked star has penned a new and “improved” long-term contract with Richards Bay FC, along with four other players at the KZN club.
The Natal Rich Boyz secured their place in the Betway Premiership for next season, impressively finishing eighth in the league standings, ahead of Chiefs, who are in ninth place.
Golden Arrows’ chances of catching Richards Bay, who have 33 points from 28 league matches, seem impossible. Abafana Bes’thende still need to play the second-half of their suspended February match against SuperSport United.
RICHARDS BAY SECURE FUTURE OF CHIEFS-LINKED STRIKER
Aiming to be competitive in the upcoming seasons, Richards Bay have now secured the future of striker Yanela Mbuthuma, locking him down on a new five-year contract. He has reportedly been on Chiefs radar for some time.
Orlando Pirates were also said to have enquired about the player after he had two impressive seasons with the Jomo Biyela-owned outfit.
The centre-forward joined Richards Bay at the start of the 2023/24 season after an impressive performance at the Khabba Cup, a pre-season Kasi tournament held in Umlazi.
He has netted 10 goals and registered seven assists across all competitions in 83 games in the last two campaigns for Richards Bay.
Mbuthuma, who’s one of the highest ranked young talents in the league, has, a couple of times, been part of Bafana Bafana preliminary squads.
He’s currently in the 41-member preliminary squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique in June.
Moreover, four other players who signed new contracts with the Zululand side are Thulani Gumede, Wandile Ngema, Thabisa Ndelu and Ntlonelo Bomelo. Just like Mbuthuma, they all signed new five-year contracts with the club.
“Richards Bay Football Club is excited to announce that the following players, namely: Thulani Gumede, Yanela Mbuthuma, Wandile Ngema, Thabisa Ndelu, Lindokuhle ‘Sphuzo’ Zikhali and Ntlonelo Bomelo, have agreed to sign new improved contracts with the club,” the club announced via a statement.
“These players have signed another five (5) years with the club ending in 2030. The Club would further like to thank them for their dedication and wish them well.”
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