adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
AJAX Cape Town FC bound Simba Sithole is on cloud nine after his break into Africa’s lucrative Absa Premiership in South Africa.
The 24-year-old Warriors striker who scored one goal in the just ended Chan tournament in South Africa said he is looking forward to finding his feet at the Urban Warriors.
Sithole penned a two-year deal with Ajax Cape Town on Thursday after getting blessings from his parent club How Mine who were busy on Friday trying to get the International Transfer Clearance for the player.
Last Friday Sithole underwent a medical examination in Cape Town.
Speaking from Cape Town on Saturday night, Sithole who went for trials at Durban’s AmaZulu last season thanked national team coach Ian Gorowa for giving him a chance to shine.
“To be honest, I never saw this (signing for Ajax Cape Town) coming. It is rare for someone to get an opportunity like this because I never went for trials and they just snapped me like that. I really thank God,” said Sithole.
“Every time I went onto the field during the Chan tournament what I wanted was to help the team win at all costs, unfortunately or fortunately I only managed to score a single goal when we beat Burkina Faso 2-1. I think Ajax Cape Town were impressed with my work rate in the national team when I played as a lone striker and managed to keep defenders on their toes throughout.
“I give credit to Gorowa. He gave me a chance to shine in the national team and look now I have moved to greener pastures. I am really looking forward to a fruitful stay at Ajax Cape Town and I will continue working hard.”
Sithole said Ajax Cape Town could be a stepping stone for him to move abroad.
Ajax Cape Town enjoys cordial relations with their sister club Ajax Amsterdam of the Netherlands and the bald headed striker will be hoping to impress foreign clubs during his two-year stay at Ajax Cape Town.
Sithole will not be returning with the Warriors today as he is scheduled to meet his new employers and will come to Bulawayo on Wednesday.
The player who draws inspiration from Cote d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba was part of How Mine’s squad for the Caf Orange Confederation Cup and believes that the club can still do well in his absence.
“I will be home on Wednesday to sort out a few things, bid farewell to my teammates and the club. I enjoyed my stay at How Mine and I will always be grateful to the club for giving me an opportunity to showcase my talent. I wish them the best in the domestic league as well as the Caf Orange Confederation Cup campaign,” Sithole said.
He scored six goals in his 25 league appearances for How Mine last season.
Sithole was born at How Mine hospital and attended Amaswazi Primary School in Magwegwe before completing his secondary school education at How Mine.
He started his career at the gold mine in 2007 when the team was in the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s Division Two.
In 2008 he moved to Monomotapa before joining Railstars the following year. He moved to Hippo Valley in 2010 and returned to How Mine in 2011 and helped them win promotion into the Premiership after being crowned 2012 Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League champions.
How Mine FC chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo could not be drawn into revealing the financial details about Sithole’s move.
He wished the player well at Ajax Cape Town.
“We are humbled that in just a season in the topflight we have managed to have a player attracting a big club like Ajax Cape Town. We are happy for Sithole and this development speaks volumes of How Mine because he was born and nurtured in this community and we pride ourselves about his breakthrough.
“As for financial details, we want Ajax Cape Town to unveil him and after that I think they will reveal the details of the deal. What I can tell you is that it was a reasonable deal and after the opportunity came we didn’t want to stand in his way,” said Nkomo.
Online Reporter