Sphephelo Sithole completes loan move to top-flight Portuguese side

Bafana Bafana midfielder Sphephelo Sithole has completed a season-long loan move to Portuguese top-flight side Gil Vicente ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Sithole was in the books of C.D. Tondela in the previous campaign as they failed to gain promotion from the Portugal Liga 2- the second division.

The 25-year-old was linked with several clubs. However, FARPost understands that Sithole will play in the Primeira Liga.

Sithole featured in 24 appearances across all competitions for Tondela and scored two goals last season. His club finished 12th on the log standings that campaign.

Meanwhile, Sithole formed a crucial part of the Bafana squad that won the bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.

The midfield workhorse was a regular starter alongside Teboho Mokoena in the middle of the park for Bafana under the guidance of head coach Hugo Broos.

Interestingly, the central-midfielder was also linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs last season, but the deal couldn’t materialise.

Last month, Sithole told PowerFM Sport that he was ‘in talks’ with Chiefs but they didn’t submit an official offer.

SPHEPHELO SITHOLE SET TO BE UNVEILED THIS WEEK

With the 2024/25 season in Portugal starting next month, Sithole will play top-flight football with Gil Vicente. He is expected to be unveiled at Vicente this week.

“Sphephelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole looks set to join Primeira Liga side Gil Vincente ahead of the new season. It’s a one-year loan deal. He had options outside Portugal. But he opted to spend one more season in Portugal.” a source close to the developments said.

Sithole’s move to Gil Vicente will be highly beneficial for Bafana Bafana in their fight to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The KZN Academy graduate is a player known for his great defensive abilities, vision, high work rate and good reading of the game.

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