Cape Town City have made the first major signing ahead of the 2017/18 Premier Soccer League season with the acquisition of Bafana Bafana attacking midfielder Ayanda Patosi.
Patosi will add to their already handsome attacking options and also brings set-piece expertise to City‚ who are looking to expand their squad with participation in the 2018 African Confederation Cup looming following their third-place finish in the league this campaign.
Patosi was a free agent after having his contract at Belgian side Lokeren cancelled following a string of off-field issues‚ where his professionalism and commitment to his career were questioned on a number of occasions.
He last played for Lokeren in March and returned to South Africa for family reasons without the knowledge of his team. He never went back.
It ends six years spent in Belgium‚ where he was at times the kingpin of the Lokeren side when he was fit and firing. Patosi was tipped for much bigger things‚ but a mixture of Lokeren putting a heavy price-tag on his head and doubts over his off-field behaviour meant he never made the step up in club or league.
How City will manage his reputation for excess will determine his success at the club as he returns to his home town having been born and raised in Khayelitsha.
Patosi is a product of the ASD Academy and moved to Belgium in 2011 along with new City teammate Ebrahim Seedat.
He has 12 Bafana caps to his name‚ the last coming in November 2016‚ and has netted two goals.
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
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