Midfielder Yusuf Maart has taken his football to Austria following his departure from Kaizer Chiefs.
Amakhosi announced their captain’s transfer to SV Ried on Tuesday afternoon.
SV Ried followed suit and confirmed their latest signing, on a two-year deal with an option to renew for a further year.
“We monitored him for a long time and we are convinced he fits perfectly into our game model. Yusuf is a very complete midfielder—he can take charge of the game, is strong in duels, is running a lot, and has a good eye for his teammates,” says SV Ried CEO, Wolfgang Fiala.
The move is an early birthday present for Maart, who turns 30 on 17 July.
He leaves Chiefs on a high note after guiding the team to their Nedbank Cup triumph in May, when he netted the winner against rivals, Orlando Pirates, at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. The trophy was Chiefs’ first in about a decade, making it a memorable achievement for all those associated with the Soweto club.
Born in Cape Town, he was scouted by Pirates in 2016 after being named Player of the Tournament at that year’s SAB U-21 national championships.
He failed to make the grade for Pirates’ first team, and just when it appeared his career was stagnant, Sekhukhune United signed him in 2020 before he was Khosified a couple of years later, going on to make 95 appearances for the Phefeni Glamour Boys during his three years at the club.
It then makes perfect sense that he’s grateful to Sekhukhune United.
“Firstly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the chairman (Simon Malatji) and CEO (Jonas Malatji) of Sekhukhune United for believing in my talent,” reflects Maart.
“Their unwavering support and the leadership opportunities they provided were pivotal in shaping not only my confidence as a player but also as a person.”
Maart’s parting shot is to Chiefs, where he was the leader of the team.
“I would also like to thank the chairman of Kaizer Chiefs and the entire management for entrusting me with the honour of wearing the armband. Leading one of the biggest and most prestigious teams on the continent is something I will always cherish and be proud of.”
In SV Ried, Maart joins a team that has just won promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga, which is the top flight in the Central European state.
He may now be in unfamiliar territory, but there’s a South African at SV Ried, and he also hails from Cape Town—Antonio van Wyk, and the winger has been showing Maart around.
It’s exactly what Maart needs to hit the ground running.
