Esteghlal head coach Pitso Mosimane has explained the reasoning behind his decision to sign former Cape Town City striker Masoud Juma, who recently joined the Iranian outfit.
Mosimane, known for his meticulous approach to strengthening his squads, pounced on the opportunity to secure the 28-year-old Kenyan striker, who became a free agent earlier this year.
Juma, who had been playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Jabalain, parted ways with the team in July, making him available for immediate transfer. His free agency status, coupled with the fact that he is a foreigner, allowed Esteghlal to bring him in ahead of the January transfer window, a move that Mosimane wasted no time in making.
The decision to sign Juma came as part of the coach's ongoing efforts to bolster the attacking options of the team.
While Juma's goalscoring record has been modest—having scored 23 goals and provided five assists in 97 appearances across five different countries since leaving Cape Town City in 2018—Mosimane believes he can add value to Esteghlal. The striker's mobility and experience across various leagues may bring a new dynamic to the Iranian side, which has been in need of firepower in the attacking third.
"I would have liked to have him here earlier. Because he also has not been playing. Because he is a free player and that is why we were allowed to sign him now. We don't have to wait for January for him to be available. Players who are available now and are free did not play in June, which tells you that he has not had competitive matches for the last six months," he told journalists.
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"He comes from an injury but with the position we have, we had a free space for a foreigner and we needed to fill it, that's why we brought him now, but these players are not match fit.
"He is a good player, we didn't sign him just because he was available," he said.
Mosimane has been vocal about his desire to improve Esteghlal's offensive capabilities, and the signing of Juma reflects his commitment to strengthening the squad. While Juma may not be a prolific scorer, his ability to play in different attacking roles and his experience could prove crucial as Esteghlal pushes for success in both domestic and continental competitions.
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