Shalulile rejected Saudi and North African bids before choosing Young Africans move

Namibia striker Peter Shalulile turned down offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya and Dubai before deciding that Tanzanian champions Young Africans provided the “complete package” for the next stage of his career, his agent has revealed.

The 30-year-old will join Yanga as a free agent after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of June, ending a highly successful six-year spell at Chloorkop in which he scored 136 goals in all competitions and became one of Africa’s most feared forwards.

Speaking exclusively to the Siya crew, Shalulile’s representative Jakes Amaning explained that Young Africans were late entrants to the race for the former Sundowns captain, who had been on the market for some time.

“Peter had been available on the market for some time and we received several serious offers. We eventually narrowed it down to about four clubs. There was interest from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya and Dubai. At the beginning, Yanga were not even part of the conversation,” Amaning said.

Long-term security central to decision

Amaning stressed that the move was never about accepting the biggest immediate financial package, but about securing stability and recognition for a player he still regards as among the continent’s elite.

“After everything Peter achieved at Sundowns, we wanted a club that could offer him peace of mind. We were looking for a long-term contract so that he could have security for the next few years, while also recognising his value because Peter remains one of the best strikers on the continent.

“We considered every offer carefully. Some clubs were offering one-year contracts, others two years, but we looked at the complete picture.”

That “complete picture”, he said, only fully came together when Young Africans put their proposal on the table.

Yanga’s late offer ‘ticked every box’

According to Amaning, Yanga’s approach arrived at a crucial moment and immediately moved them to the front of the queue.

“At the last minute, Yanga came in with an offer that Peter simply could not refuse. They ticked every box. They offered him the contract he wanted, they met his financial expectations, and they gave him the opportunity to join a club that is consistently competing for league titles and the CAF Champions League.

“When you look at what Yanga have achieved in recent years and the direction they are going, we felt Peter could continue competing at the highest level.”

The agent added that the scale and intensity of Young Africans’ support was another important attraction for the Namibia international.

“Yanga is one of the biggest clubs on the continent. Their supporters fill stadiums and they are incredibly passionate about their team. Peter is someone who enjoys that connection with supporters, so we believe it is a perfect fit.”

President and coach key to clinching deal

Amaning reserved particular praise for Young Africans president Hersi Said, whose personal involvement was, in his view, decisive.

“The president was also very influential throughout the process. From the very first conversations, he showed how much the club wanted Peter. He shared his vision for the club, explained where they see Peter fitting into their project, and made us feel that this wasn’t just another signing for them.

“When you have a club president personally involved and making you feel valued, it gives you confidence that the player is joining a professional environment where everyone is working towards the same goals. That definitely played a big part in our decision.”

The presence of head coach Manqoba Mngqithi, under whom Shalulile enjoyed major success at Mamelodi Sundowns, was another major factor.

“Coach Manqoba knows Peter inside out. They achieved so much together at Sundowns and he made it clear that he wanted him at Yanga. He also spoke to the club about creating the right environment for Peter to succeed, and that gave us even more confidence that this was the right move.”

‘Tanzanian football has grown tremendously’

Beyond the individual move, Amaning believes Shalulile’s decision underlines the growing pull of Tanzanian football.

“People need to realise that football in Tanzania has grown tremendously. Clubs like Yanga and Simba are operating at a very high level. They have resources, passionate supporters, top coaches like Steve Barker and the ambition to compete on the continent. We believe Peter has joined a club where he can continue writing his success story.”

Shalulile is now expected to spearhead Young Africans’ push for domestic honours and a deep run in the CAF Champions League as he begins the next chapter of a career that has already brought him personal and team success in South Africa.