Sundowns' looming decision on Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela

© Mamelodi Sundowns

FOOTBALL Sundowns' looming decision on Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela

Festus Chuma 07:48 - 31.05.2023

The veteran defender joined the South African giants in 2020 on a free transfer.

South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Mamelodi Sundowns are yet to confirm the club's decision on the future of Kenyan defender Brian Mandela.

The 28-year-old has been starting whenever he is match fit for Masandawana, but his contract expires on June 30 though the club has the option to extend his current deal.

With the 2022-2023 PSL season having ended on Saturday, May 20, such a decision was expected to be made in the last few weeks of the campaign.

When such a situation occurs, the player's representatives must inform the club when the date set on the extension option approaches and must be triggered for a verdict.

Apart from Mandela there are five other players whose contracts will expire at the end of next month.

The five are goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, aging winger Bradley Ralani, midfielder Andile Jali and former Bidvest Wits player Haashim Domingo.

A few weeks ago, South Africa publication KickOff quoted a source at Sundowns, which indicated that the decision should have been made by the end of the season.

"It's true, there are some players whose contracts expire in June. But we still have time to assess the situation until the end of the season," the source disclosed.

Sundowns snapped up the former Maritzburg United defender in October 2020 on a three-year deal with an option to extend for two years, weeks after the exit of former coach Pitso Mosimane.

Onyango has been playing in South Africa since 2012, when he was signed by former PSL champions Santos from Kenyan outfit Tusker FC.

He was signed by Maritzburg in 2015 and played for the side until the end of 2018/2019 after establishing himself as one of the PSL's top defenders.