Simo Luthuli signs for Marumo Gallants

Simo Luthuli [formerly Mbhele]. Picture by Golden Arrows

Marumo Gallants have signed former Golden Arrows midfielder Simo Luthuli [formerly Mbhele] ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.

Luthuli is returning to South Africa’s top division after a brief stint with Arrows during the 2021/22 PSL season.

Gallants has announced several player departures, including Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and Malawian striker Gabadinho Mhango. Other players who have left the team are Dino Ndlovu, Ibrahima Aminata Conde, Kenneth Nthatheni, Theodore Siyabulela Shai, Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Kopano Lehlohonolo Thuntsane, and Vusi Sibiya.

The club is expected to make several signings, with Botswana left-back Benson Mangolo and Luthuli among them.

Having started his football journey at the KZN Academy before moving abroad to Portugal, where he played for Sertanese, 1 Dezembro, and Pinhalnovense, Luthuli made his PSL debut three seasons ago. However, his return to South African football was not without challenges.

Simo Luthuli [formerly Mbhele]. Picture: Supplied

The transfer to Golden Arrows was complicated by a lengthy saga, which limited him to just eight PSL appearances.

Reports at the time suggested that Luthuli faced registration issues after returning from Portugal at the end of the 2020/21 season. The problems stemmed from his International Clearance Certificate from his Portuguese club, Sociedade União 1º Dezembro.

Consequently, he couldn’t continue with Arrows, and his time there ended prematurely. He later played for Venda FC in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Now a free agent, Luthuli is set to turn a new page with Marumo Gallants, bringing his European experience to the team.

SIMO LUTHULI’S MOVE TO MARUMO GALLANTS

With interest from Sekhukhune United and SuperSport United, Gallants promptly offered the 26-year-old star a lengthy contract.

Palmelense’s top scorer in the 2018/19 season is believed to have signed a three-year deal with the Bloemfontein-based club.

The club is expected to announce his signing in the coming days, as they assemble next week in Bloemfontein to commence their pre-season camp.

He will look to replicate his pre-COVID form, in which he made 22 appearances for Dezembro before transferring to Palmelense, where he played 36 matches and scored 12 goals during the 2018/19 season.

His subsequent two seasons in Portugal were with Sertanense and Pinhalnovense, totalling 24 games over two seasons.

The technically gifted midfielder primarily plays as an attacking midfielder. His best season, in which he finished as top scorer, was while “playing a free role in a three-man midfield.”