City Eyes Former Kaizer Chiefs Talent

Durban City is considering signing former Kaizer Chiefs youth player Sakhile Hlongwa.

Currently, the player is maintaining his fitness with the club, hoping for a future contract.

Hlongwa has been without a club since his release from Richards Bay last season. He was among several players, including Mpho Mathebula, Lucky Mohomi, Katlego Maphathe, and Letsie Koapeng, released during the January transfer last year window following Vusi Vilakazi’s takeover.

These players were deemed to be contributing little as the team faced relegation, though Richards Bay ultimately survived via the playoffs under coach Kanu.

Hlongwa, who scored only two top-flight goals for Richards Bay and was frequently hampered by injuries, has been seen in the stands watching the team this season.

Despite limited top-flight appearances, he was a key part of the Richards Bay side that earned promotion in the 2021/22 season, scoring 14 goals in 28 matches under then-head coach Pitso Dladla.

Pitso Dladla is now the assistant coach at Durban City, working alongside head coach Simo Dladla, aiming for a similar promotion with the Durban-based club. Hlongwa also worked with Simo Dladla at Richards Bay during Simo’s tenure as head coach in the latter part of the 2020/21 season.

Both Dladlas and Hlongwa hope for a reunion and a successful promotion push, as Durban City currently leads the Motsepe Foundation Championship table, provided Hlongwa regains his fitness and secures a contract.

Hlongwa joined Kaizer Chiefs from Ethekwini Coastal ahead of the 2012/13 season, alongside players such as Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Eric Mathoho, Siboniso Gaxa, Brilliant Khuzwayo, Matthew Rusike, Kgotso Moleko, Kingston Nkhatha, Siyabonga Nkosi, and Nicholas Mynhardt. Goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse arrived from Shamrock Rovers in the second half of that season, and Lorenzo Gordinho was also promoted during the same period.

However, unlike many of his contemporaries, Hlongwa left Chiefs without making a senior appearance. While on Chiefs’ books, he won the league title in Stuart Baxter’s first season (2012/13) and the Nedbank Cup. He later added another Nedbank Cup title with TS Galaxy in the 2018/19 season, though he did not play in the final, as Tim Sukazi’s club became the First Division side to win the South African FA Cup.

Notably, Durban City is the only Motsepe Foundation Championship team remaining in this season’s Nedbank Cup and will face Marumo Gallants in the quarter-finals next month