Following the acquisition of an ABC Motsepe League status, Retired star Mpho Makola has opened up about his decision to integrate several former Orlando Pirates teammates into his new club, Via Sports.
Makola recently, alongside his business partner Tshepo Mabona, purchased the status in the Motsepe League to participate in the third division of South African football.
The move to purchase the status of JBM FC came after Via Sports missed out on the promotion to the ABC Motsepe League after losing in the national playoffs.
Via Sports won the SAFA regional league in Gauteng to qualify for the national playoffs, where they fell short. After proving to be one of the best sides in the fourth tier, the Gauteng-based side bought the status, a move that Makola described as testing the growth of the club.
MAKOLA GIVES VERDICT ON SIGNING TSHEPO GUMEDE AND NTSIKELELO NYAUZA
Having secured the status after playing five matches in the 2025/26 ABC Motsepe League season, Makola has brought in former Pirates defenders Tshepo Gumede and Ntsikelelo Nyauza.
Gumede has been a free agent after parting ways with Cape Town Spurs at the end of last season, while Nyauza had a brief stint with JDR Stars in the last campaign before selling their status to Leicesterford City FC.
According to the retired midfielder, Gumede and Nyauza have been signed to add experience to the team as they chase a promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
“Yeah, we brought in Nyauza and Gumede just to have that experience, especially in defence. I mean, they are also there to guide the young players because, as said before, we have a relatively young squad,” Makola told FARPost.
“So we hope their presence will bring that positivity in the team because they played at the highest level, and we know their qualities. So we’ll see how it goes, but the two players are indeed with us.”
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