Zakri finally joins Maritzburg from Sundowns

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Maritzburg United have announced the signing of striker Yannick Zakri from Mamelodi Sundowns on a two-year deal.

The Cote d’Ivoire forward spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Ajax Cape Town and returned to Chloorkop following Ajax’s relegation.

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The Brazilians may have lost Percy Tau and Khama Billiat but have brought in replacements, which has left Zakri surplus to requirements.

With Lebohang Maboe having joined Masandawana from Maritzburg and Keletso Makgalwa having gone the other way, reports suggest that the Zakri transfer was part of the overall deal.

The mercurial forward has been spotted in the Team of Choice camp in recent weeks and club chairman Farook Kadodia confirmed the signing on Monday.

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‘We are very happy to welcome Yannick to the club. He is an international with lots of experience and will add to our attacking options up front.

‘It was a bit of a challenge to bring a player from Sundowns to a club with limited resources. We had to be patient, and get the support of Sundowns to make the transition happen. Boxing clever was important,’ he added.

‘Yannick was training with the team while the deal was being done. He was warmly received by the players and fit in immediately,’ continued the chairman.

‘It is a great signing for us. We always look to target the best players for the job. It is an investment to the city and supporters of the Team of Choice,’ concluded Kadodia.

Zakri will be hoping to help lift his new side from a slow start and could be handed his debut by coach Fadlu Davids when Maritzburg host Bidvest Wits on 15 September at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

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Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

 

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Dean Workman