Mamelodi Sundowns are facing a key decision regarding the future of striker Thabang Sibanyoni, whose impactful loan spell at Magesi FC has drawn significant attention.
The 29-year-old has been a crucial player for Magesi, contributing to their impressive run and helping them retain their top-flight status.
Sibanyoni’s performances have earned praise from Magesi FC coach Owen da Gama, who hailed the impact of Sundowns loanee after the team’s 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday.
The Brazilians are set to evaluate their options, particularly with their existing contract extension clause for the player.
The Limpopo outfit managed to avoid the drop in their debut Betway Premiership season and the campaign with a point away to the Buccaneers on Wednesday evening.
Sibanyoni joined Magesi on loan in January, scoring crucial goals in their survival bid.
WHAT OWEN DA GAMA SAID ABOUT THABANG SIBANYONI
“He is an unbelievable player; he is a target-man. You can play to his feet, you can flight aerial balls, there are very few that can compete with him. He is a fantastic player, he is my type of striker, you know,” Da Gama told SuperSport TV.
“Sibanyoni can hold up the ball, he can turn, he is a team player, you know. He is not the type of striker who will turn and go and score 10 goals, but he is a team player. We’ve been working on this even before we signed him; he’s been training with us.
“He was very, very unfit, so we managed to get the fitness right, took him to another level with his fitness and then we were working on the combinations because there were no combinations.
“Magesi were a team that played on the low-block, and they were just trying to go on the counter-attack with [Wonder] Makhubu. Unfortunately, we lost Makhubu to injury as well, but Sibanyoni has been unbelievable. As I say, he is my type of striker,” he added.
SIBANYONI WAITING ON SUNDOWNS
The Mpumalanga-born striker spent the first half of the season at Richards Bay FC. Before his switch to Magesi, he attracted the interest of a number of teams, including SuperSport United and Pretoria University.
With the season concluded, attention now turns to whether Sundowns will activate the extension.
Magesi are eager to renew his stay at the club, while Marumo Gallants are reportedly interested, alongside his former club AmaTuks.
He first joined the Brazilians in 2019 and has had loan spells at JDR Stars, Sekhukhune United, AmaTuks and SuperSport.
“We’re aware of the interest from a number of clubs. But Thabang is still contracted until the end of the season, although there is an option to extend. Regarding his future, we will wait for the club. The focus was on finishing the season strong,” Sibanyoni’s representative, Themba Shabalala, said.
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