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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
FRESH from becoming the first Zimbabwean player to move to a top-flight South African team in two years after moving to SuperSport United, teenage sensation Nokutenda Mangezi could be thrown straight into the deep end in Matsatsantsa’s league opening Tswane Derby against champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 19-year-old has sealed a one-year deal with the Pretoria side with an option to make it three.
He was unveiled by the team yesterday along with 24-year-old Chad international Eric Mbangossoum.
“SuperSport United is pleased to announce the signing of Chad international defender, Eric Mbangossoum (24) and Zimbabwean striker, Nokutenda Mangezi (19) on one-year deals with options to renew,” the team announced on X (formerly Twitter).
And Mangezi may find himself thrown straight into the squad to face Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld this evening.
That match kicks-off at 7:30pm.
SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is a keen admirer of the Zimbabwean youngster who arrived in South Africa in July and the veteran gaffer expressed his desire to have him at the team just weeks into his stay. With SuperSport United mainstay in attack Bradley Grobler on long-term injury lay-off, it is Mangezi who could be thrown into the fray and expected to deliver against Masandawana.
The former Pamushana and Manyame High Schools student is coming from a rich footballing system established at Real Betis Academy.
He is one of the pioneering players at the nursery after joining them as a 16-year-old upon Real Betis Academy’s launch in the country three years ago.
In confirming the signing of Mangezi, Real Betis Academy director said this was a giant step in the right direction for the institution.
“As Real Betis Academy, we are celebrating the development and everyone at the nursery has been following events down south with so much interest.
“Mangezi arrived at SuperSport United back in July for some assessment by the team. And barely weeks after training, a lot was said about his capabilities and artistry,” said Sibanda.
“When it became apparent he would get signed, we kept our fingers crossed as he continued to impress. We are very happy as Real Betis Academy to see one of our pioneering group of players earning a contract at a magnificent club playing a big league.
“It shows the quality that he has and rubber stamps our own way of developing players as an academy. We are really happy to see a huge development like this taking place in our institution.
“We are very confident that Mangezi will do well at SuperSport. We know he is capable and he will excel. He is still young and his eye for goal is incredible.
“He is one of the players we travelled with when we toured Spain in 2022. A lot of experts were very impressed with how he played in our games in Spain.
“He has been given a single year with an option of extension. We want to see him succeed and inspire a lot of youngsters we have at Real Betis Academy right now”.
Mangezi joins another Zimbabwean star Terrence Dzvukamanja who is already in the books of SuperSport United.
Online Reporter