Sundowns transfer record revealed

CRS August 5, 2020

Less than a minute

It’s almost nine years since Mamelodi Sundowns bought midfielder Themba Zwane for an incredible R800 000 from Vardos in Tembisa.

That deal struck between The Brazilians and the lower league side remains the highest transfer fee paid by a PSL club to an amateur team.

Zwane joined Sundowns in 2010/11 after beating rivals Orlando Pirates for the attacking midfielder’s signature.

However, ‘Mshishi’ struggled to adapt at Chloorkop and was loaned out to Mpumalanga Black Aces, where local fans started to see his true potential under experienced coach Clive Barker.

Besides Sundowns paying close to R1-million for Zwane, they also handed Vardos a vehicle as part of the transfer deal, according to former Downs midfielder Alex Bapela, who facilitated the player’s move to Chloorkop.

“It was R800 000 plus an Iveco minibus for an amateur player who couldn’t play properly in boots at the time. The boys were heavy for him,” says Bapela in the latest KICK OFF Magazine now on sale.

“I think the boy even once stayed in a shack in Ivory Park but when he went to Sundowns his father was literally crying from joy that his son would be earning R30 000 [per month].”