By: Sphamandla Blose

The newly promoted club Absa Premiership, Mpumalanga Black Aces, signed Abel Mabaso on Tuesday, taking the number of signings to 20 for this season.

According to the Primer Soccer League, this is the new record in the league.  Aces have exceeded the 18 pre-season signings that Free State Stars made this time last year.

Mabaso signed a one year loan with Aces, from Mamelodi Sundowns.  Sundowns announced in their website that they have also sent Method Mwanjali and Themba Zwane to Aces.

The 22-year-old fullback became Downs’s favourite in their first game of their last campaign against Kaizer Chiefs and Coach Johan Neeskens was impressed by this young player.

But things didn’t go well when he lost his place in the second half of the season, after Neekens was being replaced by Pitso Mosimane.

Aces recruitment is based on ensuring that they prove competition amongst other teams in the league this season.

New signing for Mpumalanga Black Aces,Abel Mabaso, in last season playing for Mamelodi Sundowns. Pictures by: Mpumalanga Black Aces

As any other teams in the league, superiority is the priority.  Determined Aces used their eight new signings when they were playing against league champions, Chiefs, on their first league match last Friday.

Surprisingly the club also played suspended, Mabhudi Khenyeza, in their starting line-up, who was reportedly appealing his 12 months suspension for his disrespectfulness when he split at a referee.

According to the statement in the club’s website, Coach Clive Barker has expressed his gratitude about the strong squad he has.

“I’m really happy about my players, and I’m certain that we will do well in this season.  we not going back to first division.  This is our time and we looking forward to the long season,” Barker said.