By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Orlando Pirates have officially confirmed loan move of striker Tshegofatso Mabasa to Stellenbosch FC for the remainder of the 2023/26 season.
Mabasa struggled for regular game time under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and will now look to reignite his form in the Cape Winelands.
“Orlando Pirates can confirm the move of striker Tshegofatso Mabasa to Stellenbosch FC,” Pirates said on their official X page on Monday afternoon. “The 29-year-old moves to Stellies on a loan for the remainder of the season.”
Mabasa made just nine appearances in all competitions for Pirates in the first half of the season, registering four goals and one assist.
His playtime was reduced with tight competition coming from Yanela Mbuthuma, Boitumelo Radiopane, and Evidence Makgopa, with the coach favouring his rivals.
Recently, when he was pressed to explain why he rarely used Mabasa, arguably Pirates’ most prolific striker, Ouaddou went philosophical.
To him, there was no personal issue with Mabasa, and what made him not play was purely a matter of tactics for respective games.
“To be honest, many people are asking me that question [about Mabasa’s absence]. First of all, I don’t have any issue with Mabasa,” Ouaddou stated.
“He’s a player that I love; he’s a good guy, he’s a good striker, and now I have a lot of strikers. Sometimes, tactically, the profile of the defence we are going to play influences the choice of striker.