Brazilian Nascimento joins Sundowns

28 June 2016 - 09:35 By BARENG-BATHO KORTJAAS

Premier League champions Mamelodi Sundowns have put the exit of captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele behind them, bringing on board defender Ricardo Nascimento from Brazil. Nascimento, 29, is from Académica de Coimbra, a club relegated from the Portuguese Primera Liga.The Brazilian's task will be to shore up a defence weakened by the departure of Mphahlele, who was among eight new recruits unveiled by Kaizer Chiefs yesterday.Nascimento arrived on Sunday and was yesterday given a clean bill of health. He has a three-year contract and the club hopes he will hit the ground running .He will not be available for the African Champions League match against Enyimba of Nigeria at the Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow.He still needs to complete a police record check in Brazil, after which Sundowns will have to obtain his international transfer certificate and a work permit.Sundowns hope to have him available for the Champions League game against Zamalek next month.Group B now comprises three teams - Sundowns, Enyimba and Zamalek - after CAF expelled ES Setif of Algeria for crowd violence.The Brazilians are still trying to secure Bafana Bafana's Sibusiso Vilakazi, a player in demand. Bidvest Wits won't part with him for less than R12-million.Sundowns have also inquired about the availability of Evans Rusike, the Maritzburg United striker and Zimbabwean international, who has a price tag of R6-million.Kaizer Chiefs yesterday unveiled their new signings. Along with Mphahlele, the club has acquired Zimbabweans Edmore Chirambadare and Michelle Katsvairo, midfielders Enocent Mkhabela and Sibusiso Khumalo, Zambian striker Lewis Macha, Keagan Buchanan from Bloemfontein Celtic and young striker Emmanuel Letlotlo.Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung said two or three more players were likely to be acquired.Additional reporting by Mninawa Ntloko of TMG Digital..

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