AmaZulu have provided an update on their midfielder Hendrick Ekstein who, along with Thabo Qalinge, has been training with the club’s reserve team since the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
Both players were released at the end of the previous campaign.
However, there was a twist as they rejoined Usuthu before this season got underway.
They haven’t been utilised in the senior team, but the insider has confirmed to FARPost that Ekstein has been recalled to Romain Folz’s team while Qalinge remains with the reserve side.
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder joined the Durban-based team in 2021 from Azerbaijan outfit FK Sabail.
Folz’s troops returned to training on Monday as they’re preparing for the return of the DStv Premiership after the 2022 FIFA World Cup break in Qatar end of December.
FARPost has learnt that Ekstein was part of that training under the French-Moroccan mentor, Folz.
AMAZULU RECALLS EKSTEIN TO THE SENIOR TEAM
“Ekstein started training with the first team today,” a club official confirmed to FARPost.
Last season, the 31-year-old Ekstein made 13 appearances across all competitions, 10 in the DStv Premiership and three in the CAF Champions League.
The Bekkersdal-born will be vying for the attacking midfielder position against the likes of Sibusiso Magaqa and the in-form Sphesihle Maduna.
The 22-year-old, Maduna has been preferred more for the position as he has nine appearances in all competitions, while Magaqa has only made two.
Ekstein is an experienced campaigner in South Africa’s topflight with over 150 appearances, mainly for Chiefs.
Before returning to South Africa, Ekstein had a decent stint in the Azerbaijan Premier League in the colours of Sabail and Sabah FK, a club he joined after parting ways with Amakhosi in 2019.
He scored six goals and provided four assists in Azerbaijan.
AmaZulu are next in action with Sekhukhune United on 31 December 2022 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, and kick-off is set for 17:30.
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