Beggars can't be choosers!

I have made moves in the transfer market for two foreign players, a striker who looks utterly fantastic, the wages were in line with what I wanted to pay (GBP220) and I didn't need to pay compo.

The other is for Cameroonian midfielder cum defensive midfielder, the only issue there is that my staff don't think he'll get a WP.

Fingers crossed, although it does leave me exposed with the goalkeeping issue.

We was robbed...again!!

Tuks winger Philani Khwela has won the NFD Player of the Season, with Yusuf Mashego only getting runner up. Thulanei Ngcepe from Atlie FC rounded out the top three.

Mashego did however blitz the field with the Top Goalscorer award with 43. The next best was Vasco RSA's Claudio Carneiro with 14.

And I claimed the South African First Division Manager of the Season award.

I advertised for a scout and a further coach half expecting the applicants to be slightly better than the ones I was interviewing prior to my successful year.

I'm glad I didn't set the bar too much higher, because from what I have seen, I am getting the same type of candidate, and they are certainly not the sort I would employ!

Both Mamphita (African Warriors) and Ntamo (Jomo Cosmos) had external offers put in front of them - for reasonable transfer fees I must add - and both have rejected the contracts.

Veteran striker Ramudzuli will depart Dynamos FC for Bloem Celtic in July '14, after agreeing terms.

The deal is said to be worth around GBP170K for Dynamos.

It's one of those good news, bad news posts.

Бранислав Боjaн is now listed as favoured personnel for Dynamos FC;

The value of Dynamos FC is supposedly 1.8M, however this is offset by a 1.8M loan debt.

Interestingly, prior to the loan been taken, the value of the club was in the 1.1M - 1.3M region, depending on the value of the players. I am also struggling as to why one screen says the loan debt is 1.8M, and then on the finance page it spells out that the loan is 1.1M. Yes, I know it'll be something to do with the interest that we need to pay and both figures will be right - 1.1M principal; 700K interest over fifteen years and I am also struggling with FM12 not having (??) the ability for these loans to be paid off early.

I'll be happy to hear if and how anyone has paid their loans off early though.

Another little oddity as we start to get the friendly invitations for the upcoming season, and a lesson for me to take away.

Ulsan are obligated to appear in a friendly fixture as part of the deal struck for Kweleta, so I tried to set it up....only to be VERY disappointed. Not only does my Ass Man think it will be too far for them to travel (understandable given it is Korea) but the fees involved are just mind blowing. We would at best receive 12K from ticket sales, but Ulsan are tied into an appearance fee of....wait for it....120K.

That isn't just a no, that is a HELL NO!!!

Great, another two challenges for us! My Cameroonian target has had his initial WP application turned down, needless to say though, we have appealed the decision.

I have also been disappointed, albeit unsurprised, by 'Fatso Mashego decision to retire at the next of the season, which incidentally is when his contract with us is up. This will discourage clubs from attempting to sign him, although arguably, there has been multiple chances for anyone to come and bid for him and no one has seemed at all interested!

With the provisional WP turned down on my Cameroonian target, I am now active in the transfer market, looking at options.

What I am really hoping for is that the Board will allow scouting out of the African region, which will open more possibilities for us.

Initial Board budgets are 9.25K wages and 206K transfer, and these can be altered once we have agreed on targets for the upcoming season.

South Africa are through to the Second Round of the World Cup on the back of a 4-0 drubbing of Chile.

Interesting, former champions France, fail to advance.

June '14 review

Moves made in transfer market to strengthen squad but nothing definitive as yet;

Stadium is now owned, giving us expansion ability, offset however with a 1.1M loan and installments of 10K per month to service;

253K injection into the club by virtue of winning the SA FA Cup;

Relaying of pitch on schedule to be ready for first home fixture of PSL season;

Transfers arranged for Zungu, Segoale and Rumadzuli, and we’ll be likely to hold further talks surrounding the futures of Hammers, Mamphita and Ntamo;

No interest in Fatso Mashego (who is now planning to retire on 31.5.15) nor aging striker Shabalala. Interest has waned in the squad during the break, with only defender Gomis (Jomo Cosmos, Sundowns and Vasco RSA) and striker Mseluku (Sundowns) having any notice taken of them by outside clubs.

Onana suspended for five matches for a ugly tackle during SA FA Cup Final (seventy seven thousand odd fans saw it), so it may cause issues at the start of the PSL. He has been fined and shown a willingly to address his aggressive/competitive/combatant streak in the future.

After transferring to Bloem Celtic, former player Ramudzuli has hit out at me, suggesting that he and I haven't been on the best of terms for a while, and the move away was a relief!!!

Fact: He was no more than an useful utility to have on the bench, granted his considerable experience made him ideal, as the goal against Ajax CT showed.

Fact: He is thirty one years old.

Fact: He demanded 1.1K per week to sign a contract extension, and that was something the club couldn't offer.

Fact: We have a young (okay, youth) utility player whom didn't cost any compo, and has the potential to be better than Ramudzuli.

Fact: 170K is 170K

New signings

Samora Motloung, 19, GK, RSA, Free ex Old Mutual Academy
Long term successor to Mamphita, and given what Mamphita’s contract demands are, he will be asked to move on this season.

David Mahlangu, 19, GK, RSA, Free ex Orlando Pirates
My response to a bit of interest being shown in Mamphita, before finding worthy successor Motloung, and Mamphita shunning the contract offer. Will keep him until I finalise my roster, as Masabo leaving still presents a huge risk.

Lucky Mesenya, 19, ST, RSA, Free ex Jomo Cosmos
Lucky was insurance against a move against Yusuf Mashego, and I did feel exceptionally lucky (pun intended) for him to pick our contract and move to the Dynamos, I do wish he had disclosed all his medical aliments before we agreed terms. He has been tied to a GBP250 per week, two year deal, but I just don’t know how much time he’ll spend on the paddock.

We also have two foreign players attempting to get work permits, a classy young striker who is off contract, and a great (in my opinion) midfielder.

Youth contracts

From our youth intake, we only signed four decent players – a striker and three midfielders, and we have supplemented by poaching, if you will, youth players from other teams. On the whole, there were other players I would have loved to bring to the club, and whom were willing to discuss terms, but the compensation payable made the transfers non viable.

Thando Qalando, 16, ST/MC, RSA, Free ex ASD Cape Town
For those of you who remember earlier in the year, you may remember that I have an affinity with ASD CT, having transferred four players. Given only Mashego and Gcaba have become regular starter for me, but I like the quality of the product. Qalando will be given a strikers role in my u-19 side.

Andile Mhlongo, 16, UTIL, RSA, 9K ex Phiva Young Stars
This is the player who effectively ended Ramudzuli’s career with us; especially in light of the latter’s wage demands. I’m hoping Mhlongo will challenge eventually for a starting spot, but he will at the least be a fantastic substitute, able to cover the striker, the attacking midfield and all the midfield roles. His progress will be keenly monitored.

Mbongeni Khuzwego, 16, DR, RSA, 5K ex Cloud Nine
The eventual successor to Barkhuizen, he will get a lot of game time in the U-19 league. At a pinch can cover left defender so also brings utility value.