With the stigma around Cape Town born players struggling to settle at big teams in Gauteng, Soccer Laduma highlights current previous Cape-born players at Mamelodi Sundowns after the signing of Jayden Adams.
PSL history is filled with players who were on top of their game and big stars in familiar home surroundings in the Western Cape but were unable to meet their potential after a big move to either Sundowns, Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs.
At least from the last ten years, Cape Town born players arriving at Masandawana have largely been able to hold their own, although with limited success.
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Defender Wayne Arendse was signed by the Brazilians in 2012 from Santos and became one of the longest serving players after an eight-year stay.
Another defender Mario Booysen was signed by Masandawana in 2014 from Maritzburg United but was loaned out to SuperSport United two years later.
Booysen's struggles to settle continued for another season and he eventually returned home to Cape Town Spurs (Ajax Cape Town) in 2017.
Sundowns also signed Lyle Lakay in 2018 from Cape Town City and Lakay had good four seasons at Chloorkop before he was loaned out to Cape Town City.
Midfielder Grant Margeman also joined the Tshwane giants in 2020 from Spurs but could not get game-time and was sent out on loan to Moroka Swallows a season later.
After Margeman returned from Swallows, he was loaned out to SuperSport United two seasons later before he was bought permanently by United.
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The Tshwane giants also acquired Haashim Domingo in 2020 from Bidvest Wits and Domingo had relative success before he joined Raja Casablanca three years later on a free transfer.
The Brazilians also recently signed Kegan Johannes ahead of the 2024/25 season from SuperSport United and since returning from injury around September last year, Johannes is yet to feature for the multiple champions.
