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2-YEAR DEAL FOR ‘FIGA’ AT RICHARDS BAY

23/06/2023 06:15:00 Machawe Fakudze

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MBABANE – Done deal.

Eswatini international forceful winger Justice ‘Figa’ Figuareido has penned a two-year contract with an option to renew with DStv Premiership side Richards Bay. The former Denver Sundowns and national team Sihlangu star was in the books of Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit All Stars in the past season. The team previously traded with the name Cape Town Stars, before relocating to Johannesburg in the 2022/23 season. ‘Figa’ helped All Stars to finish fourth on the charts of the second-tier of South African football before the side was sold to Limpopo-based Black Leopards.

The player exclusively revealed to this publication that he would not be travelling to Limpopo to join Lidoda Duvha, but was waiting for his agent to find a new team for him. Just this past weekend the ‘Natal Rich Boyz’, as Richards Bay are fondly known in football circles through its official Facebook page, announced the capture of the speedy Eswatini winger alongside former Orlando Pirates and Memelodi Sundown star Benedict Vilakazi’s son Thato Mohlamme from Uthongathi.

Figuareido confirmed to the Times Sports Desk yesterday that he was now the Natal Rich Boyz player after his agent Basia Michaels successfully negotiated for him. “I can proudly confirm that I have signed with Richards Bay. It’s a two-year plus an option to renew contract, but I can’t disclose all the details for now. Speak to my agent,” Figa explained. The player who is currently in Johannesburg flexing his muscles in the Gueteng DStv Kasi Champs of Champs Tournament ahead of joining his new teammates for pre-season training on Tuesday next week. He appeared for Black Poison coached by Mamelodi Sundowns championship gaffer Rulani Mokoena.

“I will be joining them on Tuesday for pre-season camp,” he briefly said. The former TS Galaxy player revealed that he was so grateful to All Stars for the opportunity that they gave him to showcase his talent for the past two seasons. He said it was not an easy ride but the experience he got was worth it. “Even though the goal was to promote the club to the Premier Soccer League (PSL), but unfortunately it never went our way. Overall we had a great season,” he said.

He further thanked his former Coach Sinethemba Badela for helping him understand what was needed of him on the field of play, which were the tactical aspect of the game and he highlighted that his game took another level. Meanwhile, no comment could be reached from his Agent Michaels, as she did not respond to Whatsapp messages sent to her by the time this report was compiled.