Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana has stopped training with the club.
Fullview has learned that the club have given the veteran central midfielder an option of staying at the club in a different capacity — among the back room staff — or going out on loan, then coming back to be honoured after he retires from playing.
Kekana’s central midfield partner,Tiyani Mabunda, retired and took up the role of club ambassador after his contract was not extended when it ended in June.
Kekana signed a new deal during coach Pitso Mosimane’s tenure, with the club revealing that he would be contracted until June 2024.
In his successful stay at Sundowns Kekana helped the Brazilians win six league titles, the 2016 Caf Champions League and the 2017 Caf Super League, among other trophies.
Kekana, who also won two league titles at SuperSport United under coach Gavin Hunt, before he joined Sundowns, is one of the most decorated players in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), along with Brazilians goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
Under co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve Komphela and Rulani Mokwena, Kekana has seen little game time and last season only made 15 appearances in all competitions.
10 years today……. pic.twitter.com/kcOJ3Ambmd
— Hlompho Kekana (@Hlompho_Kekana) August 30, 2021
The latest is that he has stopped training with Sundowns and preparing to either join another club or wait for the club’s hierarchy to decide whether there is a role for him elsewhere at Chloorkop.