Saudi Club Opens Talks For Mokwana

Newly promoted Saudi Pro League club Al-Hazem SC has officially opened talks to sign South African winger Elias Mokwana from Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.

The former Sekhukhune United talisman joined the Taraji on a three-year deal at the beginning of last season, with his contract set to run until 30 June 2027. He was part of the Esperance squad that crashed out in the group stages of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Mokwana has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 40 appearances across all competitions in his debut term with the Tunisian powerhouse, accumulating continental and global experience in the process.

In that period, the Bafana international lifted three trophies, becoming the first South African to be crowned champion on Tunisian soil. In addition to the league title, Mokwana won the Tunisian Cup and the Tunisian Super Cup, scoring the opening goal against Stade Tunisien in the final.

However, despite an impressive season, the 25-year-old winger could be on his way out along with Brazilian striker Rodrigo Rodrigues as the club seeks to balance its foreign quota to make way for new foreign recruits for the new season.

Esperance are believed to have rejected an initial loan offer with a buy option from Russian club FK Dinamo Makhachkala for the services of Mokwana, while another Russian outfit, FK Khimki, is said to have tabled a permanent transfer offer, which hasn’t been responded to at this stage.

Now, the Saudi club has formally joined the race to land the player’s signature, having opened club-to-club talks with Taraji and Mokwana’s entourage over personal terms ahead of a possible switch to the oil-rich kingdom.

Al-Hazem gained promotion to the Saudi elite league by winning the First Division playoffs following a third-place finish in the second tier. This marked their immediate return to the top-flight as they were relegated in the 2023/24 season.