Kegan Johannes move collapses over PSL quota rules

The deal was agreed on transfer deadline day, with Johannes even unveiled and joining his first training session at Siwelele. 

However, within 24 hours the transfer was scrapped, and the public broadcaster has established that it was due to regulations around loan registrations.

According to the NSL Handbook, Premier Soccer League clubs are permitted a maximum of five loan players per season, with no more than three registered in a single transfer window. 

It is understood that Siwelele only realised this limitation after finalising their paperwork for Johannes on Monday. 

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Complicating matters further is the fact that goalkeeper Ricardo Goss remains on loan from Sundowns, leaving only two available slots for incoming loanees.

The day after Johannes was confirmed, Siwelele also unveiled Happy Mashiane and Samkelo Zwane from Kaizer Chiefs, although it remains unclear if those agreements were officially concluded before the deadline.

Both Amakhosi and Siwelele only announced the deals after the window had closed, suggesting that negotiations went down to the wire.

For Johannes, the development leaves him in an awkward position with Sundowns, having earlier been deemed surplus to requirements by coach Miguel Cardoso this season.  

The 24-year-old now faces three months in limbo until the January registration period reopens, and unless Cardoso reintegrates him into the plan, Johannes may be forced to wait in the stands before securing game time elsewhere.