Sandile Mthethwa during the South African national men’s soccer team training session at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on May 31, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
Orlando Pirates ship yet another player off to Chippa United
Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa has joined a long list of players to be loaned out to Chippa United by the club.
Sandile Mthethwa during the South African national men’s soccer team training session at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on May 31, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
A constant theme in transfer activity involving Orlando Pirates and Chippa United in recent years has been players moving between the two sides, and it hasn’t been any different this time around with defender Sandile Mthethwa becoming the latest to make the switch.
The 22-year-old recently returned to the Buccaneers from a loan spell out at first division outfit Richards Bay FC, and has apparently been deemed surplus to requirements by the coaching staff – at least for the immediate future.
He has wounded up at the Port Elizabeth-based outfit, where he is set for another loan stint.
The SA youth international is yet to feature in Pirates’ senior team, despite being in the club’s books for the past three seasons.
Mthethwa has been unable to break into the Soweto giants’ first team in the past, playing all of his competitive football in the National First Division, and that struggle looked set to continue, despite the club letting go of First team defenders such as Gladwin Shitolo, Marshall Munetsi and Caio Marcelo.
He now joins former Buccaneer and fellow defender Diamond Thopola, who signed for the Chilli Boys on a permanent basis, as well as midfielder Meshack Maphangule.
“The Chilli Boys have also brought in Diamond Thopola, Meshack Maphangule and Sandile Mthethwa from Soweto giants Orlando Pirates. Mthethwa is on loan,” Chippa confirmed via a statement on Friday.
Chippa United
Death, taxes and transfer business between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United
This is far from the first time the two clubs have done business in the transfer window, with a number of players switching between Soweto and the Windy City.
Pirates have recently signed fullback Tebogo Tlolane from Chippa, while welcoming utility player Tercious Malepe from a loan spell at the club.
One player who has benefited from a stint in PE is reigning PSL Player of the Season Thembinkosi Lorch, who had to make his bones in the Eastern Cape before becoming a permanent fixture in the famous black of the Buccaneers.
The marriage has, however, not yielded the best results for some, with the likes of Donald Mokondelela fading into relative obscurity after a spell at Chippa, while the likes of Thabo Rakhale have made the best of the move.
Players who have moved the opposite direction include Paseka Mako and Linda Mntambo, who are both yet to establish themselves in the Bucs first team after a season at the club.
Business between the two clubs has, however, not always gone smoothly, with Marcelo, Shitolo, Thabo Matlaba and Bernard Morrison all infamously backtracking from completing loan moves to Chippa.
