MagRush writer | September 11, 2019
Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. unveiled a new striker and a new Director on Tuesday at Chloorkop, the Headquarters of the club.
Tukelo Rantie [29] signed a 3-year contract with the Pretoria giant, Sundowns, after a few rounds of weeks training with the club.
The South African international has made 40 appearances for the senior national team and scored 12 goals, averaging a goal per three games.
Nevertheless, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has been at pains trying to replace lethal forwards, Khama Billiat and Percy Tau, who left for better offers.
The speedy Rantie was acquired by Cape Town City F.C. in 2018. He had returned as a free agent from abroad – Glenclerbirligi in Turkey at the end of 2017. He parted ways with City due personal problems.
The latest move to Pretoria is an attempt Mosimane sees as a way to resuscitate his stagnant career by giving him a shot at the star-studded club. Competition is intense at Sundowns. Rantie will have to pull himself up by his bootstraps to command a regular start.
Jeremy Brockie, the goal poacher Mosimane lured from city archrivals, SuperSport United, fell short of expectations. Sundowns have loaned him to Maritzburg United – apparently with a “clause” not to feature when Maritzburg face Sundowns – for game time and regain form.
Two seasons ago, Sundowns brought Lebogang Maboe from Maritzburg. He has been a revelation upfront as a makeshift forward. Rantie is expected to partner with him and ease the strike-force burden to reinforce the attack and bring more goals at Sundowns. But Rantie has not touched a ball at a professional level for some time now.
Talking to Business Day, Mosimane said, “[t]he guy has not played for the last two seasons but he is quality and he was playing in the English Premiership no so long ago.”
New Director of Academy and Scouting
At management level, Sundowns have enlisted the services of former Barcelona legend José Ramón Alexanko [63] as the club’s new Director of Academy and Scouting. Alexanko made 250 appearances for Barcelona as a defender and coached the Spanish U-21s and senior national men’s team, Sundowns indicated.