Khama Billiat made a blockbuster move to Kaizer Chiefs, while Orlando Pirates secured the services of rising star Vincent Pule. SportsClub writer DEAN WORKMAN explores part two of the five best PSL signings from the summer transfer window.
1) Peter Leeuwenburgh (Cape Town City FC)
The 24-year-old, who came through the ranks at Ajax Amsterdam, made the move from the Ajax Academy in the Netherlands to South Africa to join Benni McCarthy at Cape Town City.
The tall Dutchman has already had an impact at the Citizens with McCarthy praising Leeuwenburgh after his debut, ‘He showed his worth and showed why we were so fortunate to get him. And the difference he brings to the team – that calmness and composure, which I think scared the opposition. He’s a huge figure at the back, which I think for us is really good.’
Having been at a top European club since the age of 14, the shot-stopper brings an air of confidence and reassurance to the City backline.
Leeuwenburgh has already proven his worth with his heroics in the MTN8 penalty shootout victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, where his two spot-kick saves sent his team to the final.
Read: Five best PSL signings (Part 1)
2) Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs)
In what was arguably the biggest deal of the window, the Zimbabwean made the high-profile switch from Chloorkop to Naturena on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal with an option of a further year.
The former Ajax forward spent five trophy-laden years at Sundowns where he won three Absa Premiership titles, the 2016 Caf Champions League, one Telkom Knockout title and one Nedbank Cup, but left the club under a cloud after turning down a lucrative new offer with the Brazilians.
Instead, Billiat signed for Chiefs, with the Amakhosi hoping that the Zimbabwean will provide them with the X-factor needed to help end their three-year trophy drought.
Billiat played 140 games, scoring 47 goals while providing 43 assists in his time at Downs and Chiefs will be hoping the striker can continue to produce those sort of numbers while donning the Black and Gold of the Glamour Boys.
3) Haashim Domingo (Bidvest Wits)
The attacking midfielder left the Ajax Cape Town academy as a 20-year-old to join Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes SC in 2015. The 23-year-old played 70 games for the reserve side in the Portuguese second division but after failing to move up into the first team, he decided to return back to South Africa.
Bidvest Wits managed to fight off competition from Cape Town City to secure a deal to sign the player who Gavin Hunt believes is the best player to come out of Ajax since Steven Pienaar.
‘For me, Haashim is a hidden gem. How he hasn’t played for Bafana is a disgrace. That’s what happens, players like that get lost.
‘He’s a fantastic footballer. He was brilliant for us. He can only get better and better,’ said Hunt after Domingo’s impressive debut for the club.
The young forward will offer Wits plenty of pace and trickery in the final third and could prove vital if the Clever Boys are to continue their early season form and mount a serious title challenge.
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4) Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates)
The left wing spent four seasons at Bidvest Wits, but after struggling to make much of an impact in his first three seasons, he went on to star for the Clever Boys in the last campaign, making 33 appearances and scoring five goals while providing four assists.
This form caught the eye of Orlando Pirates, who secured the services of the 26-year-old on a free transfer despite interest from Kaizer Chiefs.
Pule offers Pirates an added edge in the wide areas and he has started the season in fine fashion, which has seen him receive his first call-up to the South African national side.
Pule will, however, face competition from the likes of Thembinkosi Lorch, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Thabo Qalinge and Mahlatsi Makudubela for a spot in the Pirates team.
5) Tokelo Rantie (Cape Town City FC)
The Bafana Bafana striker spent six years in Europe after leaving Orlando Pirates in 2012. His European adventure began with a spell with Swedish club Malmo FF before moving to English club Bournemouth.
Rantie helped the Cherries earn promotion to the Premier League but only made three appearances in the English top flight before joining Turkish second division side Genclerbirligi Ankara.
The 28-year-old, however, endured a difficult spell in Turkey and eventually had his contract terminated in December 2017.
Rantie, a free agent, was then lured to Cape Town City by McCarthy and will add much-needed experience and quality in a department that has let the Citizens down in the past.
McCarthy believes his team have signed a world-class forward but after spending so much time away from the football field, Rantie will need to recapture his fitness.
‘We did hit a little bit of the jackpot because he is a player I am fond of. I know his capabilities when he is at his best, when he is fit. He hit a little bit of a rough patch but everybody does that in life.
‘So I think TK can be excused for that and that doesn’t stop him being a world-class striker, one of the best strikers we had. The fact that now I have him, my main priority to get him fit as soon as possible because I know when he gets going, he is unstoppable.’
With 13 goals in 40 appearances for Bafana Bafana, once fit, Rantie really could set the Absa Premiership alight.
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