Sundowns Sign Amajita Captain Lazola Maku in Move for the Future

Mamelodi Sundowns have signed Amajita captain Lazola Maku, adding one of South Africa’s most accomplished youth midfielders to a squad already chasing honours at home and in Africa. The 19-year-old arrives as a free agent after his Siwelele contract expired, with the deal announced on Tuesday, 20 October.

His attraction is easy to understand: continental recognition, leadership experience and room to develop. The challenge is turning those credentials into senior club minutes. At Chloorkop, a promising midfielder must show he can help control matches in which winning is expected every week.

A free transfer after Austrian trials

Sundowns’ MTN8 final victory over Pirates demonstrated the standards Maku is joining. His arrival adds a different dimension to that squad: a player whose strongest evidence so far comes from international youth football.

The club welcomed him publicly but did not disclose a contract duration. His free-agent status allowed a move outside the transfer window; it should not be confused with confirmation of a debut date or CAF registration.

Before the transfer, SABC Sport’s reporting on his Austrian trials identified SV Ried, Wacker Innsbruck and Rapid Vienna as the clubs involved. Those visits offered exposure to European football, although no overseas agreement was announced.

From Ubuntu to Amajita’s midfield

Maku developed at Ubuntu Academy in Cape Town before moving into SuperSport United’s structures and subsequently Siwelele. Former Ubuntu coach Moritz Kossmann has recalled giving him an ABC Motsepe League debut at 14. That early introduction to adult football is valuable context, although his top-flight career remains brief.

iDiski Times records five Siwelele first-team appearances, while SuperSport’s account identifies two starts. He is therefore arriving with tournament experience beyond what his senior club record alone would suggest.

His preferred work is in deeper midfield: recovering possession, protecting the defence and helping attacks begin. In an interview before the 2025 Under-20 AFCON, he described his dominant style as “to control the tempo of the game”. That ambition is relevant to a Sundowns team which asks its midfielders to do considerably more than win tackles.

Two Amajita triumphs, with different responsibilities

Maku helped South Africa claim their first Under-20 AFCON title in Egypt in May 2025, when Amajita beat Morocco 1–0 in the final. His selection in CAF’s official tournament Best XI provides firmer evidence of his contribution than general praise about potential.

He then appeared at the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, scoring in South Africa’s 5–0 victory over New Caledonia. It was another competitive environment in which he had to adapt to unfamiliar opposition.

The captaincy brought added responsibility at the 2026 COSAFA Under-20 Championship in Mozambique. South Africa won all five matches and beat the hosts 2–1 in the final on 27 September, retaining the regional title and qualifying for the 2027 Under-20 AFCON. Leading that campaign adds substance to his reputation without proving he is ready to command Sundowns’ midfield.

Cardoso’s midfield sets a demanding entry point

Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas remain established options in the central areas Maku hopes to occupy. Sunday’s goalless draw with Wiliete, covered in our CAF first-leg review, illustrated the existing hierarchy: Aubaas replaced Mokoena after an injury before half-time.

The football fit is plausible. A holding midfielder who can recover the ball and circulate it accurately could support sustained possession while helping contain counter-attacks. The harder test will be receiving under pressure, recognising when to play forward and keeping the right position when teammates advance. Those are demands Maku must meet consistently at senior level.

There is a useful connection already in the squad. Fellow Amajita midfielder Gomolemo Kekana, scorer of the 2025 AFCON final winner, is also part of Sundowns’ senior group. Maku adds another young South African option alongside experienced internationals, strengthening the case for viewing this as investment across several seasons.

The immediate campaign remains tight. Sundowns lead the league with 23 points from nine matches, one ahead of Pirates, who have played eight. Their latest league outing was a 4–1 win at Richards Bay. With the MTN8 secured and CAF commitments continuing, depth matters, but it becomes useful only when players are ready to contribute.

The Betting Read

Maku’s arrival strengthens Sundowns’ development options without establishing an immediate reason to change a match or title assessment. For upcoming games, confirmed eligibility, selection and the players rested will carry more weight than the announcement itself.

Our sports betting guide explains comparing markets and prices. Over the season, watch whether Maku earns meaningful minutes and helps maintain performance through rotation. That would turn a promising piece of recruitment into evidence of greater usable depth.

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