Mamelodi Sundowns made official on Tuesday 20 October 2026 the arrival of defensive midfielder Lazola Maku, 19, captain of South Africa U20, who joins as a free agent after leaving Siwelele FC.
Mamelodi Sundowns made official this Tuesday morning, 20 October 2026, the signing of defensive midfielder Lazola Maku, 19, reports SuperSport. The player, captain of the Amajita, arrives free of any commitment after leaving Siwelele FC in July 2026.
According to FARPost, he was released during a pre-season clear-out involving 23 departures. According to SuperSport, Sundowns were able to register him outside the transfer windows thanks to his free-agent status.
Trained at SuperSport United, then Siwelele
Maku was trained at SuperSport United’s renowned academy before his spell at Siwelele, according to IOL. With that club, he played 5 Betway Premiership matches last season, 2 of them as a starter.
During the summer of 2026, he had a trial in Austria in the hope of securing a contract in Europe, according to Soccer Laduma. In an interview with IOL, he recounted being raised by his mother and grandmother, who taught him never to give up.
A career marked by youth national teams
In May 2025, in Cairo, he won the U20 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Morocco (1-0) in the final, under coach Raymond Mdaka. He was named in the Team of the Tournament during that historic triumph for South Africa.
In October 2025, he represented the Amajita at the U20 World Cup in Chile, where he scored a goal against New Caledonia. In 2026, he captained the side to victory at the COSAFA U20 tournament in Mozambique, a regional success that confirmed the Amajita’s qualification for the next U20 AFCON, due to be held in Ghana.
Heading for Miguel Cardoso’s squad
In a statement relayed by FARPost, the club accompanied the announcement with a message to its supporters: “Mamelodi Sundowns are pleased to announce the signing of Lazola Maku! Yellow Nation, let’s give the youngster a proper welcome. New colours, new chapter, same ambition. Welcome to Bafana Ba Style, Lazola.”
Maku will be immediately integrated into head coach Miguel Cardoso’s squad, both in the Betway Premiership and in the CAF Champions League group stage.