Mahlangu finally finds a new home

17 November 2015 - 10:21 By NICK SAID

Bafana Bafana midfielder May Mahlangu will continue his career with Belgian top-flight side Sint-Truiden after signing a contract with the club yesterday, subject to a medical. Mahlangu joins compatriot Benni McCarthy at the club after the latter was recently appointed as assistant coach to the team.And, adding to the South African connection, he will work under head coach Chris O'Loughlin, who hails from Northern Ireland but is a former assistant coach at Orlando Pirates.It ends a frustrating six months for Mahlangu, who has been searching for a club since he left Turkish outfit Konyaspor at the end of last season. He becomes the fourth South African currently in the Belgian top flight, along with Andile Jali (Oostende), Darren Keet (Kort-rijk) and Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren).Mahlangu will have to wait for his work permit before he can make his debut and will probably be lacking in match sharpness after so long without competitive football. He had been hoping to move to one of Europe's elite leagues after leaving Swedish side Goteborg at the end of the 2014 season. But, after a move to Elche in the Spanish La Liga broke down over the club's transfer ban, he signed a short-term deal with Konyaspor. He has been signed, according to reports, with the 2016-2017 season more in mind as a replacement for on-loan Chelsea star Victorien Angban. But he will hope to win regular game time well before then and force his way back into Bafana Bafana.Sint-Truiden have never won a league trophy or the country's major cup competition, but they did claim success in the League Cup in the 1997-1998 season. They were promoted from the Second Division at the end of last season and are nicknamed The Canaries.The side are currently sixth in the Belgian top flight...

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