Sipho Mthembu

Sipho Mthembu

There is still no deal between Mamelodi Sundowns and their crowd favourite Manqoba "Shakes" Ngwenya.

The talented attacking midfielder and left-back David Kannemeyer are the only players still to to finalise new contracts with the league champions. Their contracts expire at the end of the month.

Sundowns' executive director Afzal Khan said negotiations had to be put back while the club focused on the Absa Cup final.

Khan is confident, though, that they will keep the talented Ngwenya who is a victim of a long-term injury that kept him out for the better part of the season.

"Shakes has given us his word that he is staying at Sundowns. We are confident [that] he will be with us in the new season," said an optimistic Khan.

He did not sound equally enthusiastic about Kannemeyer who has been linked to his former club, Kaizer Chiefs.

"David is due for an operation and we will talk to him after that. I am aware [that] there is also this thing about him and Kaizer Chiefs," Khan said.

Unlike previous seasons, Sundowns are not expected to go big in the transfer market this pre-season. So far only fleet-footed Silver Stars hit-man Koketso Mmotong has been linked to the club. He is also a target of a number of Premier Soccer League clubs.

Former technical assistant Daniel Mudau has also returned after a brief stint at FC AK.