AmaZulu FC have extended the stays of defensive duo Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Mbongeni Gumede ahead of the start of the 2024/25 season.

After their contracts expired last month, the players are back for pre-season training with coach Pablo Franco Martin having included them in his future plans.

Gumede initially arrived at Usuthu on loan from Orlando Pirates during the 2015/16 season when the club was still in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The Durban-based outfit had been relegated at the end of the 2014/15 season.

He has stayed for exactly nine seasons at the club now. Last season he played 28 games across all competitions, scoring two goals

On the other hand, Mphahlele arrived at AmaZulu in 2022 after parting ways with Kaizer Chiefs. He signed a two-year deal with the club and scored three goals in his first season in the green shirt.

The 34-year-old defender played 27 league games for AmaZulu FC last season. Mphahlele and Gumede were part of the team that reached the 2022 MTN8 final, ultimately falling short to Orlando Pirates.

Though Zungu confirmed new deals for both players, he remained tight-lipped about the contracts’ length. However, he expressed the club’s satisfaction in retaining them

ZUNGU CONFIRMS NEW CONTRACTS FOR RAMAHLWE MPHAHLELE AND MBONGENI GUMEDE

“Yes, their contracts with the club ended on the 30th of June but there are positive things about them,” Zungu told FARPost.

“I can confirm this to you – they will sign new contracts but I don’t want to disclose that they will sign contracts of how many years. They are both in the coach’s plans and the coach is happy about them.”

AmaZulu have already parted ways with George Maluleka, Victor Letsoalo, Augustine Kwem and Veluyeke Zulu. Letsoalo is reportedly heading to TS Galaxy while the other three aforementioned are yet to find new homes.