A week after securing the services of Musa Lebusa and goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, Mamelodi Sundowns have parted ways with young defender Thendo Mukumela, who has joined Natioal First Division side Ajax Cape Town on a permanent deal.
The Urban Warriors confirmed the arrival of Mukumela on Tuesday morning as they look to strengthen their defence and replace their former captain Lebusa.
The South Africa international was promoted from the Sundowns reserve side to the first team along with Keletso Makgalwa in August last year after catching the attention of coach Pitso Mosimane.
However, he struggled for game time as Mosimane relied heavily on his experienced players in a campaign which saw the Brazilians win the league tile.
The writing was always on the wall for the 20-year-old defender after Mosimane signed centre back Tristan Moses from Kaizer Chiefs and Lebusa to add to his already strong Sundowns backline.
Mukumela is a talented and versatile footballer who can play as a centre-back, right-back and as a central midfielder.
He has represented South Africa in two Fifa Word Cup finals at the junior level.
Mukumela will hope to take his football career to another level in the NFD and return to the PSL probably with Ajax, who accepted their fate and took their place in the lower division a few days before the start of the current campaign.
Meanwhile, the Brazilians also announced that Erik Hamren has left the club after seven months as their of technical director.
Hamren leaves the Tshwane giants to take over as head coach of Iceland.
He worked very closely with Mosimane and his techical team during his seven-month stint with the 2016 African champions.
Sundowns have not announced his replacement, and it remains to be see if they will attempt to replace Hamren in the near future.
