Premier Soccer League side SuperSport United confirmed the signing of Mamelodi Sundowns winger Abubeker Nassir on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Ethiopia international has been out of action for quite some time owing to a nasty injury suffered in his debut season, 2022/23 campaign, against Orlando Pirates. Despite being part of the Masandawana squad that took part in pre-season, coach Manqoba Mngqithi felt there was a need for the winger to leave on loan.
The Swanky Boys have the winger ahead of the tough league fixture against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.
Mpontshane should be in jail!
Nassir suffered a bad injury after a nasty tackle by former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane. The 60-year-old tactician feels tough measures should have been taken against the latter and went on to explain why his new player might not immediately fit into his plans.
“It was a horrendous tackle on the boy, the Pirates goalkeeper, you go to jail for those types of things. But yeah, it’s unfortunate, he’s been in and out and I think they moved a foreigner off their books but it doesn’t help us if someone is not fit to play,” the former Chiefs coach stated as quoted by iDiski Times.
“If we get that guy [that we saw on his debut against Chiefs] if we can have that guy, we know there’s a bit of pace in him, which is what we need, he can play in a front three, I think he can play in a front two.
“I don’t think he can play by himself but yeah. But he can give us options if he’s fit, but it’s no good if he’s not fit you know.”
International & Cup breaks, a blessing in disguise?
Following the elimination from the Carling Knockout, the Swanky Boys will not be in action next weekend, and the following one owing to an international break. Hunt believes it is a blessing in disguise since he is missing the likes of Grant Margeman and Bradley Grobler owing to injuries.
“[Nassir] hasn’t played [much] in two years, not fit – hasn’t kicked a ball, so it’s really I don’t know, we will have to see, but we have more time again because the fixtures have changed again, we play on Wednesday and then not for a month again,” he continued.
“It’s until the end of November again, it’s absolutely crazy but hopefully, we can get someone fit, but it’s not just about the strikers, but the construction of players in certain positions that aren’t available and we can’t afford to have one or two out.
“The squads we play against can afford to have four or five out and change and not look any different you know.”
SuperSport have a single win from their five league outings; they have lost three and drawn once.
