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Mashamaite could add to New York City’s completely revamped defense

NO WAYS: Tefu Mashamaite attempts to intercept a shot by New York City FC's Frank Lampard photo: FACEBOOK
NO WAYS: Tefu Mashamaite attempts to intercept a shot by New York City FC's Frank Lampard photo: FACEBOOK

Tefu Mashamaite’s much-anticipated trial at a US Major League Soccer team has come to fruition.

Reports from America sounded positive about Mashamaite’s chances at start-up side New York City FC‚ which joined the MLS this season funded with $100 million from Manchester City and the New York Yankees baseball team.

Pictures went viral on Thursday on social media of the recently released Kaizer Chiefs centre-back training with the franchise.

Mashamaite‚ 30‚ posted a picture on his Facebook page‚ which he titled: “Holidays are now over!”‚ showing the defender going into a sliding challenge attempting to make an intercept from a shot by NY City midfielder Frank Lampard‚ the former Chelsea Star.

Former Barcelona striker David Villa is also an NY City player‚ though the new club still has some way to go before matching the pulling power of US glamour clubs such as LA Galaxy and New York Red Bull.

“Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement‚” the defender posted later in response to his well-wishers.

The New York sports website nysportshub.com reported on Thursday that Mashamaite was on a 10-day trial.

“New York City Football Club held their first training session with Frank Lampard on Wednesday‚ but that was not the only news to come out of the training session‚” the website reported.

“South African centre-back Tefu Mashamaite also trained with the squad. Mashamaite is reportedly undergoing a 10-day trial with the club.

“A backline of Angelino – Shay Facey – Mashamaite – Andoni Iraola could give NYCFC a completely revamped defense and change their team completely … Mashamaite would be a strong addition for NYCFC.”

Angelino — full name Jose Angel Tasende — is an 18-year-old Spanish youth international signed on loan for the rest of the US season from Man City’s youth system last month.

Young Englishman Facey‚ 20‚ is also on loan from City.

Spanish right-back Iraola signed on a free transfer last month after making 510 appearances for Bilbao in 12 seasons.

It is no surprise NY City have been bolstering their squad in the past six weeks‚ at the halfway stage of the MLS‚ which runs from March to October to avoid the brutal US winter.

The team coached by 42-year-old American Jason Reis are in third-last place — 18th out of 20 teams — above Shaun Bartlett’s old team Colorado Rapids and last-placed Chicago Fire.

Mashamaite‚ the PSL and Chiefs’ 2014-15 player and player’s player of the season‚ whose central defensive partnership with Mulomowandau Mathoho conceded a miserly 14 goals steering Chiefs to the PSL title‚ could add defensive quality to the struggling US side.

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