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Stepping Up Your Game

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Grant Margeman of Supersport United challenged by Sibongiseni Mthethwa of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership 2023/24 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Supersport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane on the 27 April 2024 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

There is always room for improvement in any player. SoccerClub writer Dylan Appolis picks seven players who can make a big step up in the 2024-25 campaign.

BATHUSI AUBAAS
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Aubaas joined Mamelodi Sundowns in August 2023 after a standout 2022/23 season with TS Galaxy. The towering midfielder struggled to cement a regular berth in the Brazilians starting XI, battling the likes of Teboho Mokoena, Rivaldo Coetzee and Bongani Zungu for a position in the middle of the park. One of the contributing factors to the 29-year-old (right) having a belowpar campaign was a groin injury, which also affected his playing time during the 2023/24 season.

KHANYA LESHABELA
CAPE TOWN CITY
A former Leicester City midfielder, Leshabela joined Cape Town City in the January transfer window after parting ways with the Foxes. Much was expected from him when he joined the Citizens because of his prior experience playing for Leicester City, Shrewsbury Town and Crewe Alexandra in England. However, Leshabela failed to live up to expectations and was a bit-part player for City, as he could not secure a regular starting berth in the team that included the likes of Taahir Goedeman, Thabo Nodada, Relebogile Mokhuoane and Luphumlo Sifumba, all of them fighting for a place in the midfield.

GRANT MARGEMAN
SUPERSPORT UNITED
Margeman left Mamelodi Sundowns to join SuperSport United on a permanent basis after signing a three-year contract in June 2023. The talented midfielder (top right) joined Sundowns at the start of the 2020/21 season, but spent his time on loan at Moroka Swallows before starring for Matsatsantsa last season. The Cape Town-born player has been a key figure in the middle of the park for SuperSport, where he made for a formidable combination with Siphesihle Ndlovu. Although he has been a consistent performer for the club, Margeman has the potential to improve and surpass the form he showed during the 2023/24 season.

KNOX MUTIZWA
GOLDEN ARROWS
Mutizwa is known for his scoring and playmaking ability and has been a crucial part of the Golden Arrows teams since joining the club from now-defunct Bidvest Wits in 2017. But the Zimbabwean striker has been a shadow of himself in the 2023/24 campaign for Arrows, after having scored eight goals and registered six assists in 27 appearances across all competitions the previous season. Mutizwa has failed to hit those same heights and has stiff competition from the club’s top goal scorer Lungelo Nguse, as well as competition from Ryan Moon, Gbagbo Junior Magbi and Nhlanhla Zwane.

KATLEGO OTLADISA
ORLANDO PIRATES
Otladisa signed for Orlando Pirates in July 2023 on a long-term deal ahead of the 2023/24 season and following the relegation of Marumo Gallants. The 27-year-old winger had an impressive season with the Limpopo side, contributing six goals. He featured in 43 matches in all competitions and helped Gallants reach the semifinals of the African Confederation Cup. However, Otladisa has not lived up to the hype since he joined Pirates, and has failed to impress, so he has had limited game time.

TEBOGO POTSANE
KAIZER CHIEFS
Potsane joined Kaizer Chiefs on a three-year contract after parting ways with Royal AM in July 2023. The 30-year-old had a promising start to life at Naturena and made positive contributions to the team, though his season was cut short after he picked up a long-term injury that kept him out for most of the season. Potsane last featured when he played for the Soweto Giants in their 1–1 draw against Sekhukhune United on 23 December 2023. This seemed to be his last contribution to that team for the season. However, the winger has much to offer AmaKhosi in terms of quality as he recovers and regains his fitness heading into the new season.

VICTOR LETSOALO
AMAZULU
Letsoalo was scooped up from Sekhukhune United by AmaZulu on 1 July 2023 to bolster their attacking options up front. He had a stellar campaign with Royal AM, where he helped the club secure a place in continental football for the first time in their history after scoring 15 goals in the 2021/22 season. The Limpopo-born striker could not maintain his success with Sekhukhune the following season, which ultimately saw him leave the club to join Usuthu. With expectations and pressure on his shoulders, Letsoalo could not rediscover the same form for AmaZulu during the 2023/24 campaign that he had shown at Royal AM.