Here come the South Africans!
Brad Morgan
27 July 2006
A quiet South African revolution looks set to hit the English Premier League.
Bafana Bafana star Quinton Fortune has completed a move from Manchester United to Bolton Wanderers, fellow SA international Benni McCarthy is reportedly about to sign for Blackburn Rovers, and Delron Buckley is making a good impression at Everton.
Fortune, aged 29, signed a one-year deal with Bolton after spending the past seven seasons at Old Trafford.
Injury problems
His time with the Red Devils was somewhat blighted by injury, including last season, which he spent on the sidelines because of a knee problem.
Fortune, who has turned out for South Africa on close to 50 occasions, has played in two World Cup finals. Before joining Manchester United, he made his mark in Spain with Real Mallorca and Atletico Madrid.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, writing on the club's official website, expressed his admiration for Fortune,
praising his versatility and calling him a quality performer with plenty of experience in England's top flight.
Leaving Porto
Benni McCarthy, meanwhile, after having a number of seemingly imminent transfers to the English Premier League fall through in the past, seems pretty certain that he will be leaving Portuguese champions Porto, whom he helped win the Uefa Champions League in 2004.
"I'm sad because I'm leaving many friends behind at FC Porto. Real brothers," McCarthy told the Jornal de Noticias newspaper.
McCarthy underwent a physical with Rovers on Tuesday and, provided he passes it, is expected to be revealed as a Blackburn player soon. His transfer fee is said to be in the region of €2.5-million.
Rovers enjoyed a good season in 2005/06, finishing in sixth place in the Premiership and qualifying for the Uefa Cup. McCarthy's experience in Europe could certainly help the club, which would likely welcome another sixth place
finish in the upcoming season.
Buckley on trial
Another Bafana Bafana ace, Delron Buckley, has been on trial at Everton.
His late inclusion for a pre-season tour of the United States has surely boosted his chances of a transfer from Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Dortmund.
The 28-year-old has just spent a week with the Toffees trying to impress manager David Moyes, and it appears Moyes saw enough. He wanted to see more of Buckley and told the player he would like him to join the tour of the US.
Buckley's playing time in outings against Preston North End and Glasgow Celtic was minimal, but Moyes has promised to give him more playing time during Everton's tour.
While in the US, the Toffees will face MLS side Columbus Crew as well as Mexican outfit Club America.
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