PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 28: Mamelodi Sundowns players during the Mamelodi Sundowns Media Open Day at Chloorkop on May 28, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns have had a foreign quota issue and with the new season already underway, Soccer Laduma reports if they are sorted.
Sundowns are believed to have had nine foreign players in their squad, while only five foreign players were allowed to be registered in the Premier Soccer League.
During the offseason, the Brazilians had Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Marcelo Allende, Divine Lunga, Lucas Ribeiro, Arthur Sales, Abubaker Nasir, Erwin Saavedra, Junior Mendieta and Matias Esquivel.
Read: Insider: What is Mngqithi’s mandate?
To settle the issue, the Tshwane giants terminated Mendieta’s contract, who eventually joined Greek side FC Volos on a free transfer.
Masandawana also sent Esquivel on loan to Argentine club CA Talleres, who have the option to buy him permanently.
It has been reported that Nasir could be sent out on loan to clear a job abroad, but that could depend on Sundowns managing to secure permanent residency for Saavedra, through a Financially Independent Permit (FIP).
The Bolivian, as head coach Manqoba Mngqithi suggested, could therefore be registered as local, if his application for naturalization is successful.
If Saavedra was registered as a local, in the same way they did with Alje Schut in 2015, then Masandawana would have solved their foreigner problem.
This publication has been led to believe that Lunga acquired permanent residency during the January transfer window and was registered as a local after spending five years in the country.
Read: Downs faithful to get first glimpse of new striker
Despite rumours of a departure, Boutouil seems well placed to remain at Chloorkop, as he occupies five foreign places alongside Allende, Ribeiro, Sales and Nasir (if Saavedra is naturalised).
With the transfer window open, there could still be some twists and turns in the Brazilians’ foreign quota management, should they sign another foreign player, but as things stand, they appear to have finally settled the foreign quota issue, which hinges on Saavedra gaining homegrown status.
