Former South African pro comes out of retirement to sign for Manukau United

posted in: News, Northern League

A winger who played top-level club football in South Africa and India has come out of retirement to help struggling Manukau United.

Sameehg Doutie (33) has arrived in New Zealand after a 12-year professional career playing in the top division of South African football, the India Super League and the top tier of the Swedish pyramid.

The former South African U-20 and U-23 international made his debut for Manukau United against Manurewa on May 13, playing a full 90 minutes in his new club’s 3-0 loss.

Manukau are second bottom in the Northern League after winning only one of their opening nine games.

In January 2022, Doutie announced his retirement from football having been unable to find a club after leaving South African Premier League club Bidvest Wits at the end of the 2019-20 season.

After being a free agent for more than a year, he decided to hang up his boots, telling his supporters: “Goodbye to the beautiful game.”

Main photo: Sameehg Doutie … taking the chance to revive his football career in Auckland.

However, a change of heart has brought Doutie and his family to Auckland where he has been reunited with childhood friend Tashreeq Davids (34), one of Manukau United’s coaches, who helped arrange the move.

Doutie told his social media followers he was “truly grateful to be playing again”.

Doutie’s pro career has taken him to South African clubs Ajax Cape Town, Orlando Pirates, Supersport United and Bidvest Wits, Atlético de Kolkata (India Super League), Jamshedpur (India Super League) and IFK Värnamo (Sweden).

Watch Doutie’s debut for Manukau United

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