Pirates keen to re-sign Mabena from AM

SABC Sport has established through impeccable sources that Orlando Pirates are hot favourites to sign striker Ndumiso Mabena in the event that he gets his clearance from Royal AM this week. 

The veteran forward has been involved in a legal dispute with his current club over his salary not being paid in July and August, but the Labour Court last week gave AM until Friday to settle the debt.

Mabena, 35, still wants to continue playing and feels he has a lot to offer, although the KwaZulu-Natal based outfit desperately tried to ship him off to Swallows FC in an exchange for three other players.

With that move collapsing, after Mabena showed no interest in joining the Dube Birds and vice versa, he was not registered to play by AM and left in limbo when his July wages, initially, were not paid.

Mabena approached the Premier Soccer League Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), which ruled in his favour and ordered that AM reinstate him for the remainder of his contract¦but the side owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize reacted by suspending Mabena for alleged œmisconduct.

SABC Sport understands that the two parties are closer to reaching a mutual agreement to terminate the player™s contract, and this is where Pirates come in.

The Buccaneers would then take Mabena to beef up their striking department and orchestrate his return to a club he played for between 2004 and 2014, managing more than 70 games in that period.

It is believed the experienced striker could add firepower to coach Jose Riveiro™s attack alongside Eva Nga and the currently in-form Zakhele Lepasa - and Mabena™s proven track record in front of goal is also a huge plus despite his age.

By Mazola Molefe