McCarthy: Losing Sithebe to Chiefs opens up a nice spot for Mobara!

Sithebe was frozen out of first-team duties last Sunday as AmaZulu returned from the mid-season break, with his decision to agree to a pre-contract with AmaKhosi having incensed club boss Sandile Zungu, while McCarthy has revealed that the fallout has left the club “with a problem”.

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Sithebe’s current AmaZulu deal is set to expire at the end of the current season in June this year, after which he will head to Naturena ahead of the of the 2022-2023 season.

As a result, Mobara is now set to re-unite with McCarthy at Usuthu, with the midfielder reportedly having already bid farewell to his City teammates.

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Just over a year ago Cape Town City handed Abbubaker Mobara a contract extension until June 2023. However, this past season he has only received limited game time as Nathan Fasika and Taariq Fielies have been preferred as the starting centre-backs, and he is now set now make the move to AmaZulu.

“Well … we’re losing Sithebe to Chiefs. He’s a midfielder and so it opens up a nice space for Mobara,” McCarthy commented, as quoted by Sowetan Live.

“I know he’s [Mobara] a right-back, he’s good at right-back. But in that position we have [Thembela] Sikhakhane, [Mbongeni] ‘Shoes’ Gumede and Kgotso Moleko and so competition is good there.

“But in midfield I think you want to dominate, you want to dictate matches and Mobara has that intelligence.

“He’s got the skills, work ethic and he’s got the intelligence to play in that role. So one door closes with Sithebe and with Mobara one opens”

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Mobara will hope McCarthy can help take his career to the next level

The 27-year-old has previously had stints with Ajax and Pirates before settling at Cape Town City.

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He joined Cape Town City in July 2019, and that was soon after ending his relationship with the Buccaneers following a frustrating three seasons for him. However, it was former Bucs star and now AmaZulu coach McCarthy who handed Mobara’s career a lifeline.

Having broken through as teenager at Ajax, Mobara was also a star for the national U23 team at the Rio Olympics, where he memorably marked Brazilian superstar Neymar.

AmaZulu are currently fifth on the DStv Premiership standings, and will next be in action against TS Galaxy on 16 February.

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