UMGADLI waMamelodi Sundowns, uLucas Ribeiro, usethubeni lokuqopha umlando kwiPremier Soccer League (PSL) ekupheleni kwesizini ka-2023/2024.
Abadlali abaqhamuka emazweni angaphandle kweNingizimu Afrika batheleka emaqenjini eDStv Premiership njalo ngaphambi kokuqala kwesizini naphakathi nayo uma sekuvulwe iwindi likaJanuwari.
Nokho bambalwa abafike bayishukumise iligi ngokushesha, ngesikhathi kusabhekwe ukuthi bazinze. Eminyakeni edlule, bekujwayelekile ukuthi amaqembu athole abagadli abaseqophelweni eliphezulu abagcina bewelela phesheya kwezilwandle emuva kokushaya into ecokeme kwiPremiership. Kodwa akujwayelekile ukuthi baphenduke undabizekwayo eMzansi ngesizini yokuqala kule ligi ebalwa naphezulu e-Afrika.
URibeiro (25) waseBrazil, ujoyine iSundowns ekuqaleni kwesizini ka-2023/2024 esuka kwiSK Beveren yaseBelgium, useshayele leli qembu amagoli angu-10 emidlalweni engu-12 yeligi aseyidlalile. Uvalele phakathi amathathu ngesikathi iSundowns ihlula AmaZulu ngo 3-0 koweligi ngasekuqaleni kwesonto.
La magoli abeke uRibeiro esicongweni kubashayimagoli abahamba phambili kwiPremiership kule sizini. Ulandelwa nguKhanyisa Mayo weCape Town City oseshaye ayisishiyagalolunye emidlalweni yeligi kule sizini.
URibeiro usethubeni lokuba ngumgadli wesibili wangaphandle owine umklomelo wamagoli, iLesley Manyathela Golden Boot, ngesizini yakhe yokuqala efikile kwiPremiership selokhu kwasungulwa iPremier Soccer League (PSL) ngesizini ka-1996/1997.
Lokhu kwagcina ngomgadli waseSenegal, uMame Niang, owashayela iMoroka Swallows amagoli angu-14 ngesizini ka-2005/2006. Wayejoyine iSwallows esuka kwi-ASC Diaraf yangakubo. Ngesizini eyandulela ekaNiang, abantu baseMzansi babekhala ngoCollins Mbesuma waseZambia owashaya amagoli angu-25 ngeyesibili, wasiza iKaizer Chiefs yawina iligi ngaphansi komqeqeshi uTed Dumitru ongasekho.
UNiang, osehlala eNorway emuva kokuphanyeka amakhokho emgibeni, utshele leli phephandaba ukuthi uRibeiro, angawudla umklomelo weLesley Manyethela Golden Boot.
“URibeiro uzokwenza into eyagcina ngami kwiPremiership. Akekho omunye umgadli wangaphandle owadla umklomelo wamagoli ngesizini yakhe yokuqala efikle eNingizimu Afrika. Kuseyimina kuphela. URibeiro uzokwenza lokho ngenxa yezinga eliphezulu labadlali abamzungezile kwiMamelodi Sundowns. Kuya ngokuthi uxhumana kanjani nendlela iqembu elidlala ngayo. Ngenhlanhla, iSundowns idlala ibhola elihambisana naye. Nami ngasizwa yilokho kwiSwallows. Kwakunabadlali okubalwa kubona uLefa Tsutsulupa, Edzai Kasinauyo, Cecil Oerson nabanye,” kusho uNiang owadlala kwiSundowns phakathi kuka-2014 no-2016 ngaphansi komqeqeshi, uPitso Mosimane.
Ngaphandle kukaNiang, baningi abagadli bangaphandle abazakhele igama eMzansi ngokushaya inethi bephindelela. Kulaba bagadli kubalwa uWilfred Mugeyi waseZimbabwe, Christopher Katongo, Benjani Mwaruwaru waseZimbabwe owagcina esedlala kwiManchester City yase-England, Dennis Lota noJames Chamanga baseZambia.