Potential Swap Deal On The Horizon For Stellenbosch And AmaZulu

Sportswire has learned that Stellenbosch and AmaZulu are rumoured to be considering a swap deal involving players Sanele Barns and Mlondi Mbanjwa.

The proposed agreement would see Barns move to Durban, with Mbanjwa heading in the opposite direction to Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch is open to the deal as they feel Barns, who was signed from Richards Bay at the beginning of last season, did not meet the club’s expectations despite Stellies securing a third-place finish for the second consecutive season.

Barns featured in 31 matches across all competitions, scoring three goals, but only 15 of those were starts. Coach Steve Barker is rumored to be dissatisfied with Barns’s overall output, prompting consideration of this swap.

On the other hand, Mbanjwa, 27, had a strong start to the past season for AmaZulu but later fell out of favor. He played in 24 matches across all competitions, with nine starts, as Usuthu finished in the top eight for the first time in two seasons.

His availability has made AmaZulu receptive to a deal that would send the former Uthongathi attacker to Stellenbosch.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu has been actively reshaping their squad since the end of the season. They are set to visit Stellenbosch in the MTN8 quarter-finals next season.

The club has seen a significant number of departures, including Kwanda Mngonyama, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Abbubaker Mobara, Wayde Jooste, Thembela Sikhakhane, Veli Mothwa, Rowan Human, Mbongeni Gumede, and Boniface Haba.

As they prepare for a substantial push in the transfer market, AmaZulu has already secured two new signings: Keagan Allan from Richards Bay and Darren Johnson from Chippa United.