Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns to battle for out-of-favour Orlando Pirates striker

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Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns to battle for out-of-favour Orlando Pirates striker
Image - Orlando Pirates

Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns could soon be engaged in a battle for Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who has fallen down the pecking order at the club.

Mabasa has seen limited game time under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who prefers either Evidence Makgopa or Yanele Mbuthuma in most games, seeing the ex-Bloemfontein Celtic striker play nine matches this season, with just three starts, in which he has four goals and an assist.

However, the striker is believed to be disillusioned with his situation at Pirates and does not see a future at the club as he enters the final months of his contract.

With his frustrations now known and his Pirates future uncertain, Chiefs and Sundowns have reportedly sounded out the player’s representatives with a view to signing him on a free transfer.

Why do Chiefs want to sign Mabasa?

“There are three clubs interested in signing Mabasa on a free. The situation is different on all three. The club that is interested but least likely to sign him is Al Ahly,” said former Cape Town City star Peter du Toit on SoccerBeat.

“I do not have strong contacts in Al Ahly, I have got contacts but not to the level I can tell you they are interested but I know there has been some contact.

“I will keep following up on that. The two clubs that are interested are obvious; one is Kaizer Chiefs and I can tell you that they have been in contact with the agent despite the denials.

“Kaizer Chiefs will not sign him for this transfer window, they are full of strikers. They want to sign him, obviously there are some negotiations but they will sign him and he will replace two strikers. They will let two of their current strikers go.”

Sundowns sound out Pirates striker

Meanwhile, Du Toit claims Sundowns have also contacted Mabasa’s agent as they are preparing for potentially life without Iqraam Rayners while Lebo Mothiba’s poor injury record is also accelerating the need for the out-of-favour Pirates forward.

Tshegofatso Mabasa celebrats. Photo - Orlando Pirates
Tshegofatso Mabasa celebrats. Photo – Orlando Pirates

“The other club that is interested in signing Mabasa is Mamelodi Sundowns. There have been talks with the agent, there will be denials because I am saying something that should not be said,” he added.

“If you look at Peter Shalulie is 32, Rayners is 29, Mothiba is 29, the same age as Mabasa. The only difference is Mothiba is constantly injured and Rayners has health problems and there is also the possibility he may move overseas. Sundowns have always liked the player.”

The 29-year-old striker has been at Pirates since joining from Celtic in 2019, albeit with loan spells at Sekhukhune United and Moroka Swallows, and has scored 50 goals in 141 games, just two behind the club’s all-time top scorer Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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