Moorosi Tsiane
LIKUENA striker Nkoto Masoabi, who plies his trade for GladAfrica Championship side, Real Kings, is waiting to hear from his agent what the future holds for him when his contract lapses next month.
Masoabi joined Real Kings from Kick4Life at the beginning of the 2018/19 season. He scored eight goals for the Durban side in the first season and helped the team avoid relegation.
His performance in his debut season attracted interest from teams like ABSA Premiership side, Amazulu. However, the player was encouraged to stay at Real Kings for at least another season by then coach, Simo Dladla.
Unfortunately, his fortunes changed when the team changed its management and parted ways with Dladla and former Black Leopards coach, Joel Masutha, took over. Masutha had earlier refused to buy Masoabi when he was still at Black Leopards at the beginning of the 2018/19 season.
Although rumours suggest that the former Lioli striker had been deregistered by Real Kings, Masoabi said he still had a running contract and even played some games when the season started,
He however, called his tenure with the side a “rollercoaster”.
“It has been a rollercoaster for me since I came to Durban,” Masoabi said.
“My first season was good and I scored eight goals which saved the team from relegation. I slowly turned into one of the fans’ favourites and that performance caught the eyes of the likes of Amazulu, who wanted to sign me.
“The coach advised me to stay and I decided to stay. However, the management changed and the new management brought along about 35 players from its previous club, Royal Eagles… Since then, there have been so many new players and the new coach was forced to loan or sell other players.
“However, I am still contracted to this team and I have played some matches this season and came off the bench in some. My contract only ends at the end of the upcoming transfer window, so I am still part of the team.”
Masoabi said he was yet to decide his next move but said he has entrusted his agent to do the work.
“I have received offers from some Durban clubs and some outside South Africa but my agent is the one working on that.”
He however, said he was hoping to land at an ABSA Premiership side while he is also eyeing a move to Europe.
“It is every player’s dream to one day play in big leagues but in South Africa, I don’t think there is really a huge difference between Glad Africa and the ABSA Premiership. Although I would love to play in the premier league, my goal is to move overseas. There were negotiations before the coronavirus outbreak which I hope will resume once everything returns to normal,” Masoabi said.
