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SA MARITZBURG RELEASE ‘FIGA’

02/07/2019 02:20:00 BY ASHMOND NZIMA

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MBABANE – Eswatini international Justice Figareido has secured a loan move away from South Africa’s Premiership side Maritzburg United.

The Sihlangu right-winger is leaving after only one season in a bid to get game-time, as he is not in head coach Eric Tinkler’s plans for the new season. The 20-year-old joined the team on a reported E500 000 deal in August last year. His Maritzburg contract runs until June 30, 2021.

It could not be established if ‘Figa’ had found a team by yesterday, but reports suggested South Africa’s National First Division side Mbombela United were leading the race to snatch him.

“Some of the Eswatini big guns are offering to sign him and they are ready to pay him E15 000 per month,” alleged an impeccable source. Informed insiders close to the ‘Team of Choice’, as Maritzburg United are widely known, claimed that the Kwazulu-Natal-based outfit were ready to pay half of the player’s salary at the team he will join on loan.

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Tinkler confirmed the latest developments regarding the loan move when sought for comment yesterday. “That’s correct. We’re releasing him so that he can get game-time,” said Tinkler, who is a celebrated South Africa’s Bafana Bafana legend.

The player had joined Maritzburg from Manzini Sundowns. Sundowns Chairman Mark Carmichael also confirmed learning about the developments, saying it was fantastic for the player to play at a professional set up at only 20.

“We’re happy that he broke into the team at a young age. We hope the loan deal will help him to secure a move to a team with less pressure. Maritzburg were under pressure, as they were fighting relegation, but the player still got game time. He will return a better player. Even players like Manchester United’s Pogba left on loan and came back stronger,” said Carmichael.

The player, who did not respond to a message sent to his phone, featured in 14 league matches and two knockout matches at Maritzburg. At one point, he played for the reserve team in the MDC. According to online site, transfermarket, his current market value is 135 000 British Pounds (about E2.4 million).