Hendrick Ekstein and Thabo Qalinge are still facing uncertain futures at AmaZulu as they haven’t been part of the senior team since the 2022/23 season began.
The duo were released by AmaZulu at the end of the previous season when the club had a major squad overhaul, letting go of no less than ten players.
But Ekstein and Qalinge later re-joined the Durban-based outfit during the pre-season when Brandon Truter was still in charge of the team. However, they trained with the reserve side.
AmaZulu and Truter parted ways in October, and the Cape Town-born coach was replaced by Romain Folz, who had just resigned at Marumo Gallants.
Things didn’t change even under the French-Moroccan mentor, as Ekstein and Qalinge are still with the reserve team.
EKSTEIN AND QALINGE TRAINING WITH AMAZULU’S RESERVE SIDE
“They are still AmaZulu players,” a club official told FARPost.
“They are just not training under the squad with Coach Folz at the moment, as that’s how it was when he joined the team.”
Ekstein penned a deal with AmaZulu from FK Sabail in Azerbaijan, while Qalinge joined the KwaZulu-Natal side as a free agent after parting ways with SuperSport United.
Both attackers had stints at the two Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs [Ekstein] and Orlando Pirates [Qalinge]
The 31-year-old Ekstein has over 150 appearances in South Africa’s topflight, while Qalinge has featured 143 times in the Premiership.
With the club football set to return after the ongoing FIFA World Cup, it remains to be seen whether Ekstein and Qalinge will be recalled to the senior team.
Both players are 31 years old and perhaps yearning to play at the highest level again.
The January transfer window could be an opportunity for them to secure deals elsewhere.
RELATED STORY: Ex-Chiefs Defender Kgotso Moleko Resurfaces In KZN
