Sundowns

Bernard Morrison of Orlando Pirates is challenged by Grant Margerman of Ajax Cape Town during the Nedbank Cup Last 32 match between Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town on 10 February 2018 at Orlando Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Outstanding Grant Margeman already a Sundowns Player

A source at Ajax Cape Town has confirmed that promising midfielder Grant Margeman is on his way to Tshwane and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Sundowns

Bernard Morrison of Orlando Pirates is challenged by Grant Margerman of Ajax Cape Town during the Nedbank Cup Last 32 match between Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town on 10 February 2018 at Orlando Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

For more than a year, Mamelodi Sundowns have been linked with move for one of Ajax Cape Town’s brightest talents in midfielder, Grant Margeman. Sources have now confirmed that he is indeed already a Masandawana player.

For a couple of season since his breakout year at Ajax Cape Town, Sundowns have been looking at the 21-year-old. When the transfer window closed shut on the 2 September, it appeared that the move had not been completed but it is now clear that Sundowns signed both the midfielder and his teammate, Jody February.

The latter, a goalkeeper who represented South Africa at the 2016 Rio Olympics, confirmed the Sundowns move to Kickoff.com in October, saying:

“It gets me out of my comfort zone. I think playing for Sundowns gets you out of your comfort zone, to test how strong you are, not just physically but mentally as well. I think for me it will be a good thing considering how young I am.

“A lot of people are going to say ‘why Sundowns’ but everything happens for a reason and I think all it takes is character and hard work.

“After twelve years at Ajax I’m grateful but there comes a time in your life where you have to go somewhere else

“But like I said I have a new challenge for me to grow and to be better. And getting to work with the best in Africa you know.

“I’m here [at Cape Umoya United] for a season. Hopefully, if it all goes well I will go to Sundowns next season. Whatever happens next season I will deal with that next season, but for now I’m with Cape Umoya.”

February has so far struggled to get into the starting XI during his loan spell, with Samora Motloung (former Orlando Pirates) and Gershin Kock (former Sundowns MDC player) keeping him out of the lineup for the most part.

It has been confirmed by two separate sources that Masandawana also signed Margeman on transfer deadline day in a double deal, before being loaned back to Ajax Cape Town for the season. This is a similar path followed to the one Sundowns took with Keagan Dolly, who was signed but stayed at The Urban Warriors to get game time for his development.

Margeman scored a superb long range strike this past weekend – his third goal of the season in the GladAfrica Championship – and the new Sundowns midfielder has been called up to coach David Notoane’s squad for the under 23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt this month. 2020 Tokyo Olympics games qualification is at stake in that tournament.

What type of player is the Sundowns recruit?

Having coached Margeman for a period at Ajax Cape Town during his junior days, Grant de Smidt gave some input in his style of play:

 “Margeman initially played as a number ten in the under 14 and under 15 age groups, but once he got to under 17 level, he started playing a deeper role.

“He became more of a ‘number 8’ where he could drop deep to start attacks before getting forward. He is one of those rare midfielders who can both play a killer through ball as well as dribble past opponents in central areas. For the PSL team at Ajax, he has been used both as a 10 and as an 8, but the latter role suits him best and it’s where he plays most of the time.”

It is not clear whether the midfielder will spend just one season out on loan before returning to Sundowns or whether they plan to have him play in the ABSA Premiership in the 2020-21 season before returning to Chloorkop. The latter scenario makes more sense. If Ajax get promoted, then that is a natural loan extension for the player. Otherwise, a club in the mould of Maritzburg United or Stellenbosch FC could be an ideal short-term home for him whilst the careers of some of Sundowns’ older players begin to wind down.