Mamelodi Sundowns set to register Divine Lunga as a local player

The Premier Soccer League [PSL] rules only permit clubs to have a maximum number of five foreign players on their books at any point in time, and The Brazilians have exceeded their quota this season.

Sundowns currently have Boutouil Abdelmounaim, Marcello Allende, Lucas Ribeiro, Junior Mendieta and Abubeker Nassir as the international players allocated in that category and cannot add more – initially leaving out Lunga in the cold when the 2023/24 season got underway. 

Lunga had in fact returned from a loan spell at Golden Arrows, a side he joined Sundowns from in July 2021. 

Speaking to SABC Sport, the 28-year-old Zimbabwean’s agent Mike Makaab confirmed the player was not going anywhere during the January window. 

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“He will now be eligible to play as a South African and that will be very interesting because I believe Divine is incredibly talented and offers the club options as a left-sided player,” explained Makaab. 

Lunga moved to the PSL in 2018 from one of the top sides in his native country, Chicken Inn, following an agreement to join Arrows. 

The period he has spent in SA meets the requirement to apply for permanent residency and allows Sundowns to then put him on their books as a local. 

“It will be interesting to see how he is used – I do think he is going to do well there. He will definitely stay as there are no plans to move him on loan. I am excited because I think he is an outstanding player. A lot of people look at him as a defensive player, but he has got incredible ability going forward,” Makaab added. 

While at Arrows last season, Lunga only missed two DStv Premiership games for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit, proving to be a pivotal asset to the club.  

But since his transfer to Sundowns nearly three years ago he has only ever managed 12 appearances and will now hope to add to that tally.