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How Sundowns' foreign contingent may look next season as Brazilians eye South American signing

Mamelodi Sundowns have already cast their eyes to Panama international Ismael Diaz despite already having nine non-South Africans on their books this season.

Edgardo Carles, who represents Diaz, has already confirmed in interviews that Sundowns have agreed to the price tag that C.D Universidad Catolica have asked for.

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Universidad Catolica is the club that Diaz currently plays for in the Ecuadorian Serie A and featured for them in the Copa Libertadores (South America's premier club tournament) last year.

CSKA Moscow have also tabled their offer, but the offer is not favoured due to issues in that country. 

ismael diaz

Diaz broke through into the professional ranks as a teenager over a decade ago back home in Panama and had a stint with Portuguese giants FC Porto before spending time in Spain and Uruguay.

The 25-year-old is now into his second year in Ecuador.  

With Sundowns already having nine non-South African in their books, how will they be able to make further signings.

KickOff can confirm that the Brazilians have one foreign slot at present after Gaston Sirino was recently issued with his South African citizenship.

Sirino has spent five years in the country and was issued with a South African passport number.

Having never played for his country of birth – Uruguay – he is eligible for Bafana Bafana.

Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Sirino of Mamelodi Sun

Foreign contingent

Also holding South African passports are Zambian keeper Kennedy Mweene , Kenyan defender Brian Mandela Onyango, Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Onyango, and Namibian forward Peter Taanyanda Shalulile.

Mweene is two years shy of completing 20 years playing in South Africa and has spent a decade at Chloorkop after joining from Free State.

Mandela Onyango has been in the country since 2012 when he joined Santos before moving to Maritzburg and signing for Sundowns three years ago.

Denis Onyango is also a long serving member of the PSL having played in this league since 2006 and has spent a dozen years at Chloorkop.

kennedy mweene and denis onyango

Shalulile has spent eight years in the country.

The four players registered as foreigners at present are Marcelo Allende (Chilean), Erwin Saavedra (Bolivian), Abdelmounaim Boutouil (Morocco), and Abubeker Ahmed Nasir (Ethiopia).  

This means the fifth spot will be open for Diaz next season.

A further spot could also still be made available if Saavedra leaves having struggled through the year he has spent at the club.

Sundowns have other foreign players out on loan in Zimbabwean left-back Divine Lunga at Golden Arrows, Nigerian forward Etiosa Ighodaro at Chippa United, and Ugandan keeper Ismail Watenga at Marumo Gallants. 

Lunga will become eligible for South African citizenship in July which will allow room for Ighodaro should Saavedra leave.

Watenga will then be forced to continue playing away on loan.

With the options available for Sundowns, they could have as many as eleven foreign born players in their squad next season in Diaz, Lunga, Sirino, Mweene, Mandela Onyango, Onyango, Shalulile, Allende, Saavedra/Ighodaro, Boutouil, and Nasir.

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