CAPE TOWN – A day after losing winger Lyle Lakay to Mamelodi Sundowns, Cape Town City have boosted their attack by signing Siphelele Mthembu.
The 30-year-old striker joins from Free State Stars, where he had scored five goals last season.
The experienced Mthembu, who hails from Melmoth in KwaZulu-Natal – which is about 50km east of Nkandla – is one of the more well-travelled forwards in the PSL.
He turned out for Orlando Pirates a decade ago, and has since featured for Bloemfontein Celtic, Golden Arrows, Platinum Stars and Kaizer Chiefs. Mthembu still played for Free State Stars in last week’s pre-season event Maize Cup in Orkney, which was won by Chiefs.
“CTCFC can confirm the signing of South African striker Siphelele Mthembu to bolster the forward options ahead of the new season!” Cape Town City said on Twitter on Wednesday.
“Mthembu joins the Citizens on a one year deal with an option to extend. The striker finished the 2017/18 season with 5 goals in 19 starts.”
CTCFC can confirm the signing of South African striker Siphelele Mthembu to bolster the forward options ahead of the new season! #iamCityFC #WelcomeShakaZulu pic.twitter.com/jj1VOIHX1c
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) July 18, 2018
Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy – who spent some time with his players on Wednesday in marking Mandela Day by helping Habitat for Humanity build houses in Mfuleni – has long identified goal-scoring as a problem at the club.
@bennimccarthy17 working hard on site with his team @CapeTownCityFC- building strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter this #MandelaDay #100YearsofMandela #CapeTown @NelsonMandela @HumanSettlement @OptimizeAgency #mfuleni #capetown #soccerstars pic.twitter.com/s6lgVNXk8a
— HFH South Africa (@HFHSouthAfrica) July 18, 2018
The Citizens scored a paltry 26 goals in 30 league matches last season, which is the fourth-lowest tally behind Ajax Cape Town (21), Platinum Stars (23) and Bloemfontein Celtic (25).
In fact, City conceded one more goal – 27 – than what they scored in finishing in fifth position on the log.
So, McCarthy will hope that Mthembu can make a difference in the new season, along with the rest of the strike-force in Matthew Rusike, Nana Akosah-Bempah, Masoud Juma and Judas Moseamedi.
@ashfakmohamed
IOL Sport