Sundowns clear Mahachi for Monaco trials

Sport
SOUTH Africa’s Absa Premier League champions Mamelodi Sundowns have given the thumbs up to Kuda Mahachi’s impending trials at French Ligue One side AS Monaco.

SOUTH Africa’s Absa Premier League champions Mamelodi Sundowns have given the thumbs up to Kuda Mahachi’s impending trials at French Ligue One side AS Monaco.

THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Although both Sundowns and his manager Mlungisi Moyo said they were still waiting for confirmation on when he would be leaving for France, Mahachi who is on loan at Highlanders, already has necessary travel documents.

The Brazilians communications co-ordinator Thulani Thuswa confirmed that the club had given the nod to the trials.

“It has always been our culture not to stand in the way of players who want to develop. Even though he has not played for us we are confident he will do well,” he said.

Mahachi’s manager Moyo said he was waiting for official communication from Monaco on when the ginger-haired player could travel to France.

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev recently announced the departure of coach Claudio Ranieri, but Sundowns said this would not affect the scheduling of the trials.

“No they will not be affected. Mahachi is a good player. He can play anywhere in the world. He is classic. We are not sure yet when he will be leaving for the trials, but from us he is free to go,” Thuswa said.

Ranieri was with the red and whites for two years and was relieved of his duties on Tuesday although no announcement has been made with regards a new coach.

The club’s owner oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev is currently involved in a messy divorce which has seen an order being passed for him to pay his ex-wife Elena $2,6 billion.

According to Wikipedia, the Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state, located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. It is bordered by France on three sides. One side borders the Mediterranean Sea.

Monaco hosts two major football teams in the principality; men’s football club AS Monaco FC and women’s football club OS Monaco.

Founded in 1924, AS Monaco plays at the Stade Louis II and competes in the Ligue 1, the first division of French football.

The club is historically one of the most successful squads in France. It, however, suffered relegation in the 2010 to 2011 season.

Many football stars who include French World Cup winners Thierry Henry, Fabien Barthez and David Trezeguet have played for the club.

The club reached the 2004 Uefa Champions League Final, with a team that included Dado Pršo, Fernando Morientes, Jérôme Rothen, Akis Zikos and Ludovic Giuly, but lost 0-3 to Portuguese team FC Porto.

Monaco has been governed under a constitutional monarchy since 1911 with the Prince of Monaco as head of state.

Prince Albert II is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and is married to Bulawayo-born Charlene Wittstock.

Charlene is the daughter if Michael and Lynette Wittstock and was born in 1978. Her family relocated to Transvaal in South Africa when she was about 11 years old.

The former South African Olympic swimmer met Prince Albert II in 2001 and were first seen together in 2006, thereafter in June 2010 they announced their engagement and married on July 1 2011.