End of FIFA sanction a game-changer for Ernst Middendorp

But now that the Dube Birds have been thrown a lifeline after the world football governing body annulled the decision on Friday, this is a game changer for the Soweto outfit.

Swallows are currently second from bottom on the DStv Premiership table. 

"I think it's a huge achievement for the chairman and the club to find a solution in this direction. When I started on the 19th of December there was no promise, so I took this challenge and looked at what we had available," Middendorp said.

The German-born mentor had already invited several players from the reserve league to train with the senior team with the intention to add them to the squad for the second half of the season.

"I saw already in the training session during the week on Tuesday and Wednesday, when I went there, I saw about three or four guys that are ready to train with the senior team. Maybe one or two can help us a bit more, there may be progress in the development," he added.

Swallows immediately registered Evans Rusike ahead of Saturday’s goalless draw against SuperSport United, and Middendorp expects attackers Tawanda Macheke and Richard Ulomi to also be added before the deadline tomorrow.

"Evans Rusike was easy, we have one or two targets from outside the country. Of course, we need an international transfer certification and that is not possible since we got the notification late afternoon on Friday. At least we got Rusike and we still have two more days and hopefully we can sort some stuff out," Middendorp concluded.