With Rushine De Reuck off to Israeli club Maccabi Petah Tikvah for a loan spell, Mamelodi Sundowns is contemplating loaning out five more players before the transfer window closes.
These players, who aren’t part of the coach’s plans, have been offered to various teams in the Betway Premiership.
Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has emphasised that the squad is too large. The Portuguese manager prefers a smaller group and has reportedly divided the players accordingly. Those who are marginal to his plans have been training separately.
“I don’t like working with oversize squad. I prefer to work with a squad of 24 plus keepers… [that] would be enough, or 22 with goalkeepers would be enough,” Cardoso told the media.
“We have to worry about the careers of the players. At the moment, we’re discussing letting some players go out, but we need to find the right places to send them; sometimes they [the players] say it’s not the best for me…”
Here are five players Sundowns are exploring loan moves for ahead of the transfer window closure on January 28, 2025.
LEBOHANG MABOE
The versatile player was recently offered to Sekhukhune United, but there are indications that the move is unlikely to happen. The 30-year-old has not been a regular starter at Chloorkop in recent seasons, although the technical team has not entirely sidelined him.
Maboe joined Sundowns from Maritzburg United in August 2018 under then-coach Pitso Mosimane. His move came after an outstanding season in which he emerged as the Team of Choice’s top goal scorer. Maboe has struggled with long-term injuries, and this season, he has made only five starts across all competitions for Sundowns, most of which have been from the bench.
ZUKO MDUNYELWA
After joining Masandawana exactly a year ago, the former Chippa United right-back made 10 starts in all competitions. The club signed Keagan Johannes, who is seemingly ahead in the pecking order. This season, Mdunyelwa has only made one start and two substitute appearances.
Sekhukhune United are reportedly interested in him and have made Sundowns aware. However, with the injuries to Khuliso Mudau and Thapelo Morena, the club may reconsider their stance on him. Johannes returned from a long-term injury, and the club may want to have a backup for him.
THEMBINKOSI LORCH
A year after joining the club from Orlando Pirates at the insistence of Rulani Mokwena, Lorch now finds himself sidelined. Mamelodi Sundowns’ sporting director, Flemming Berg, was reportedly opposed to signing the 31-year-old attacker. So far this season, he has made two starts and five substitute appearances, scoring one goal and providing one assist. He rarely makes the match-day squad.
Lorch has been linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs and has reportedly been offered to several clubs, including Sekhukhune. Cardoso has seldom utilises him in match situations. His last appearance came on January 4, 2025, during a 1-0 loss to Raja Casablanca away from home. That match marked his sole appearance under Cardoso, who succeeded Manqoba Mngqithi, meaning he has only played three minutes of football under his Portuguese mentor.
REYAAD PIETERSE
The 32-year-old goalkeeper has been on the bench three times this season but has yet to start a game or make a substitute appearance. In the absence of Ronwen Williams, Cardoso has chosen to rely on Denis Onyango’s experience.
Over his seven years at Sundowns, Pieterse has made 20 starts, indicating that Pieterse is not prioritised at the club, and this situation is unlikely to change.
His agent is on record as saying they are considering a loan move for the goalkeeper, who has previously played for Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport.
In an interview with FARPost, Gary Cassisa said: “A move will be ideal for him for the purposes of game time, but it’s always tricky because the player has a family to feed.
“It’s more in the interests of survival. But that is definitely something we are considering, although it’s always tricky to move a player from Sundowns,” Cassisa told FARPost in a previous interview.
LESIBA NKU
The former Marumo Gallants winger has made only one bench appearance this season and is clearly not part of the club’s plans, as he is not training with the main squad. Stellenbosch FC targeted him during this transfer window, but the move collapsed after they failed to agree on personal terms.
The 28-year-old joined the Tshwane giants last season under coach Rulani Mokwena but is currently out of favour. In his debut season at Sundowns, shortly after moving from Marumo Gallants – who were relegated – Nku made 28 appearances and scored five goals.
He seems to have been forgotten, having yet to play a single match for The Brazilians, as he struggles to break into the team under both Manqoba Mngqithi and Cardoso.
Nku is still contracted to Sundowns until June 2028, and his departure would require any interested suitor to buy out his contract. Babina Noko expressed interest in signing the talented winger, but it remains uncertain whether a move will materialise before the transfer window closes on January 28th.
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