Sundowns fans could soon be set to welcome another new player to the club. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Former Liverpool youngster linked with top PSL team
A Cameroonian-born former Liverpool defender has been linked with a top local club in South Africa in what would be a blockbuster move.
Sundowns fans could soon be set to welcome another new player to the club. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
With the start of a new domestic season fast approaching, there is still time for top teams to make key additions to their squads. In fascinating news that should not be overlooked, the increasingly popular social media platform Unplayable reports that former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund youth player, Stephen Sama, has been linked with DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
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Sama spent plenty of time in the Liverpool system
Sama was signed by Liverpool as a 16 year old in the summer of 2009 from Borussia Dortmund on a two year deal. He progressed to become a key player for the Academy, and in the 2010-11 season, he led the Under 18s appearances chart, clocking up 32 games, none of which were as a substitute. He scored two goals in the campaign. On 1 July 2011, Sama, along with other highly rated Academy players Adam Morgan and Tyrell Belford signed a new contract that was set to keep him at Anfield until June 2014.
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After excelling for the Academy, Sama made his first-team debut on 1 August 2011 in a 3-3 draw against Valerenga in a pre-season friendly. He was made a full-time member of the Reserves for the 2011-12 season, during which he racked up 26 appearances, which included seven in the NextGen Series. In July 2012, new manager Brendan Rodgers brought Sama and a handful of the club’s other brightest young talents on the first team’s pre season tour of the USA. He played the first half of the 1-1 draw against Toronto alongside Jamie Carragher, putting in a good, assured display. Sama also featured in the games against Roma and Spurs, again impressing in both.
After the tour, Sama returned to Merseyside as part of the Under 21 squad. He received his first competitive call up to the first team squad on 26 September 2012 for an away match against West Brom in the League Cup. Sama was an unused substitute for the match, but retained the first team squad number 45 for the 2012-13 season. Sama continued as an integral member of the U21 squad, racking up 30 appearances.
His season was soured, however, by some high-profile red cards – most notably early in the match against Manchester United on 14 May 2013 in the semi-final of the Premier Reserve League, which Liverpool went on to lose 3-0.
In the 2013-14 season, Sama made eight appearances for the U21s and was given the opportunity to be involved in first team affairs at Melwood by Brendan Rodgers. Sama was however unable to convince the club of his first team credentials, and he was released in May 2014.
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Sundowns have been very strategic in their player considerations in the ‘off-season’
So far, Sundowns have only made two big ‘official’ signings, with Sipho Mbule recruited recently, while it can’t be forgotten that it was during the January transfer window that the Brazilians secured the services of Abubeker Nassir from Ethiopian Coffee after undergoing a successful trial.
However, the 22-year-old was loaned back to his club immediately after putting pen to paper as Sundowns had already exhausted their foreign quota. It’s recently been reported by Soccer Ethiopia that he is heading to South Africa to start his time with Sundowns, and may well have played his last game for Ethiopian Coffee.
Other reports have stated that Sundowns have also been in advanced talks to sign Moroccan defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil. Yet, it’s believed this deal will no longer materialise.
Meanwhile, Soccer Laduma reports that Sundowns are also in talks to sign top central midfielder Thabo Nodada from Cape Town City. The report states that although Nodada’s contract with the Citizens runs until June 2024, the clubs are apparently in talks over a possible transfer fee.
