Tshwane University of Technology has turned to a striker whose emergence into the top-flight football scene had two of the country's biggest teams ready to go to war for his signature.
Siphelele Mthembu is currently without a team after Pretoria Callies sold their Motsepe Foundation Championship status to Lerumo Lions.
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'Shaka Zulu', as he is affectionately known, was spotted on the bench when TUT played against University of Pretoria in a Varsity Football match played in Tshwane on Thursday.
The encounter between the two rivals from the capital ended goalless.
TUT, coached by former Baroka FC tactician Bushy Moloi, currently sit fourth in the standings and remain unbeaten after two matches in the Varsity Football Cup.
In an interview with KickOff.com, Mthembu confirmed he has not yet retired from football but does not rule out a coaching career in the future.
"I always train with TUT here in Pretoria. They have asked me to come and help. There is nothing big, but just helping the team whilst I am still searching for a club to play for this season," said the attacker from Melmoth.
Mthembu made his PSL debut back in 2008 in the colours of Orlando Pirates, who won a legal case for his services against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs. Though he later played for the latter, he has largely failed to hit the heights expected of him considering the noise his arrival in the big league generated.
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TUT have netted only one goal in the Varsity Football competition so far after beating Durban University of Technology 1-0 last week. It remains to be seen if the player's experience will help them beat Central University of Technology in their next fixture.
They recently hosted former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula, who came to motivate the charges. The Tshwane-based university has produced a number of players in the PSL, including Vusi Sibiya and Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Lebitso.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
