Phetso Maphanga of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 game between Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates at Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 19 August 2018 © Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates part ways with defender Phetso Maphanga
Phetso Maphanga has become the latest player to leave Orlando Pirates after tracking back on a loan move to Chippa United.
Phetso Maphanga of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 game between Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates at Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 19 August 2018 © Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates have released yet another player from his contract, this time defender Phetso Maphanga, who had been loaned out to Chippa United.
The club has seen a host of players depart in the ongoing transfer window, with a large number going the other way as the technical team refreshes the squad ahead of the looming 2019/20 season.
Player exodus continues in the Buccaneers camp
The latest of these departures is the left-back, who had featured just four times for the Buccaneers in two seasons.
The club revealed on Thursday that Maphanga had requested to be released from his contract.
“The player requested to be released from his contract and the club has agreed to his request,” Orlando Pirates revealed via their Twitter account.
“The club would like to wish Maphanga the best of luck in the future.”
Orlando Pirates
Maphanga is one of four players originally sent out on loan to Chippa, and the second of the lot to opt to cut ties with the Buccaneers completely instead, with Brazilian defender Caio Marcelo the other one.
Phetso Maphanga future in doubt after Orlando Pirates departure
The loan spell was his second at the Port Elizabeth-based outfit, having spent the second half of the previous campaign there.
It is also the same club from where he joined the Buccaneers at the start of the 2017/18 season.
Pirates are yet to offer more details on his departure, but the player has reportedly become the latest in a growing string of Pirates players to track back on a loan move to the Port Elizabeth-based outfit.
He was shipped off to Chippa, alongside teammates Diamond Thopola, Gladwin Shitolo and Marcelo.
However, only Thopola who, like Maphanga, is an ex Chippa player has remained, with Shitolo opting to spend the season at Lamontville Golden Arrows, while the Brazilian youngster chose to return home.
Another player Pirates have loaned out to Chippa is defender Sandile Mthethwa, who had just returned from a loan spell at first division outfit Richards Bay FC.
Despite his reluctance to return to Chippa, the club is where Maphanga made the bulk of his top flight matches, making 20 of his 25 senior appearances across competitions.
However, his latter loan spell at the club coincided with the arrival of new coach Clinton Larsen, who only fielded him just four times out of a possible 23 matches.
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