Interest is swelling in Stellenbosch FC midfielder Nhlanhla Mgaga just a season after he moved to the Winelands outfit.
Mgaga joined Stellies from Baroka FC when the Limpopo club got relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season.
The Cape Town outfit was in the process of replacing Ashley Du Preez, who had just joined Kaizer Chiefs at the time.
NHLANHLA MGAGA MOVED TO STELLENBOSCH
Mgaga signed a three-year deal with the Capetonians after his contract with Baroka had expired.
This season he has featured 20 times in all competitions for Stellies, with 17 of those coming in the DStv Premiership.
Mgaga is reportedly unhappy with how little action he has seen this season. Only 11 of his appearances in all competitions have been starts.
“He’s not happy with the situation. He knows he’s talented and wants to play as much football as possible.
“He feels he’s done everything, worked hard enough to make the starting line-up constantly. He has had discussions with the coach about the situation.
“He’ll be open to leaving if there’s a good offer for him,” a source within the club told SN24.
MGAGA APPROACHED BY ROYAL AM
Nhlanhla Mgaga has already been approached by Royal AM, who fancy their chances of luring him to Durban.
“Royal AM are interested in him, they want to sign him for next season, but obviously, he is contracted to Stellenbosch. The club will decide if they want to see him leave.
“It may be a bit tricky because they may lose a few players, particularly in midfield, so they would probably want to keep him,” added the source.
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker recently said letting go of their best players would affect their competitive edge.
He would have been worried about the future of Junior Mendieta and holding midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa, who are linked with Kaizer Chiefs.
Mthethwa is seen as a potential replacement for Njabulo Blom, who joined MLS outfit St Louis City in December.
Barker said he wanted the team “to be successful” and “to start challenging higher up on the league table”.
He believes that if they want to achieve that, “it is important that we start being the team that doesn’t lose its best players and we can retain our best players.”
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His squad is built around Mendieta, Mthethwa and Iqraam Rayners.
“It is important for us as a football club to also be successful, and that will be by retaining our players.”
However, Stellenbosch may be unable to keep its top players should big clubs come knocking for their services with enticing packages.
Any movements, particularly in midfield, may affect any potential move for Mgaga, with two years left on his contract in June.