Cape Town City have to forever sell players to break even. Here are 11 top stars they have allowed to leave in the last five years, writes Nick Said.

KERMIT ERASMUS
Age: 33
City starts/goals: 36/17

Erasmus’ career was on the skids when he left Portuguese side Vitória Setúbal at the start of the 2018/19 season but he found a happy home in Cape Town.

He was a star player for the club and averaged almost a goal every other start. It was inevitable, then, that bigger sides would look at him, and Mamelodi Sundowns swooped in for his services after two campaigns.

Things did not work out there or at Orlando Pirates, and he managed only another 14 goals across all competitions in the next five seasons.

TAARIQ FIELIES
Age: 31
City starts/goals: 160/9

Fielies was a stalwart for City in the heart of defence after joining from the second tier in 2017, signing up for coach Benni McCarthy’s first season.

His fighting spirit was admired, and he became a regular from the start, despite having no top-flight experience. It was something of a surprise when he was sold to AmaZulu at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

FAGRIE LAKAY
Age: 27
City starts/goals: 62/17

A player whose career was on the slide after several unproductive years when he joined City in 2019, he got things back on track in the Mother City and made the lucrative move to Egyptian side Pyramids FC after two-and-a-half seasons.

Coach Eric Tinkler revealed the deal on the table was too good to turn down.

PETER LEEUWENBURGH
Age: 30
City starts/goals: 93/0

Dutch goalkeeper Leeuwenburgh spent three successful seasons at City before leaving for Groningen in his homeland, having rekindled his flagging career.

When he was back up and running, he expressed the desire to return to the Netherlands and try his luck in the Eredivisie, so City reached an agreement on his sale to FC Groningen.

He was a regular in his first campaign, second choice in his second and spent last season on loan at Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.

GIFT LINKS
Age: 25
City starts/goals: 20/5

Links was used as both a starter and a bench option in his one-and-a-bit seasons at City, but it is really where he made his name and forged a reputation, leading to an €800 000 (approximately R16 million) move to Danish side Aarhus in 2019.

He since became a hugely important member of the squad for the Danish side over the next five seasons.

CRAIG MARTIN
Age: 30
City starts/goals: 101/14

Martin was signed by McCarthy, who knew he was a raw talent but valued his pace and fighting attitude, perhaps a mirror of how he believes the game should be played as well.

Martin could play right back or right wing, and filled both roles before he was sold to Orlando Pirates ahead of 2022/23. Things did not work out there, but he joined Chippa United the following year and was much improved.

TERRENCE MASHEGO
Age: 27
City starts/goals: 64/2

The left-back was a low-key arrival from TS Galaxy but turned into an instant regular with his marauding runs into the attacking third.

He caught national team attention and after that, Sundowns came in for him, and he was always going to make the move. He has had injuries and not really settled at Chloorkop.

MDUDUZI MDANTSANE
Age: 29
City starts/goals: 75/21

Mdantsane was briefly City’s leading scorer after arriving from Baroka FC midway through the 2019/20 season, netting nine goals each in his first two full campaigns.

When Kaizer Chiefs came in for him at the start of 2023/24 it was always likely he would leave, and City have missed his goals from midfield as they have battled to deliver on their rich potential.

ABBUBAKER MOBARA
Age: 30
City starts/goals: 42/1

A similar deal to the Fielies one, Mobara was a valued member of the City squad, so it was a major surprise when he was sold midway through the 2021/22 campaign after two-and-a-half years at the club.

They decided to cash in when the offer came from AmaZulu, where he has since become an important player too and a rock in their defence.

AYANDA PATOSI
Age: 31
City starts/goals: 37/10

Another player whose career needed a lift when he arrived at City in 2017. After a spell in Belgium, where he was criticised for off-field issues, Patosi was superb in his 18 months at the club before leaving for a lucrative offer from Iranian side Esteghlal.

He provided goals, assists and threats from set-pieces, with City paying a loan fee in excess of R5 million for his first six months at the club.

SURPRISE RALANI
Age: 36
City starts/goals: 103/17

Ralani was already a veteran winger when he joined City from Swedish side Helsingborgs in 2017, having spent his entire career abroad.
One of the best players never to wear a national-team jersey, he was a revelation and after four successful seasons was sold to Sundowns at the age of 35. He later had a short spell with Cape Town Spurs.