Mamelodi Sundowns star Thapelo Maseko has opened up about his struggles at the club, admitting that his passion for the game is fading as he feels ‘unseen’ despite training hard.
Maseko’s future at Sundowns has been a subject of speculation in the past few weeks after having a limited contribution to the team last season.
The Bafana Bafana international featured in 14 matches across all competitions in the previous campaign and scored one goal. Maseko was also left out of the Brazilians’ squad that participated in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which took place in the USA between June and July 2025.
His omission from the Club World Cup raised questions about his future at the Tshwane giants, as he’s seemingly not in the plans of head coach Miguel Cardoso.
The pacey winger joined Sundowns in 2023 from Tshwane rivals SuperSport United; however, the move is turning sour as he’s struggling for game-time.
Maseko had a promising start to his career at SuperSport with his skills and pace after coming through the club’s DStv Diski Challenge side.
In his time with Matsatsantsa, Maseko played 34 senior team matches, scoring four goals and providing two assists before the club sold its status to Siwelele FC.
WHAT MASEKO SAID ABOUT HIS SITUATION AT SUNDOWNS
After missing the two opening matches in the new season for Masandawana in the MTN8 quarter-final and the Betway Premiership, the 21-year-old has revealed that his hunger for the game is slowly fading away.
“I don’t know when it started, but lately it’s like the fire in me is fading. I still train like my life depends on it, still push through every tired muscle, mental battle, but inside it feels empty,” Maseko expressed himself on Instagram.
“The game that once lit up my soul is now different, heavier, and colder. It’s a strange kind of pain, giving everything you have but feeling unseen. You tell yourself to keep going, but each day chips away at you. Your confidence starts to crumble, your joy fades, and the person you used to be feels like a memory you can’t reach anymore.
“The hunger, the excitement, and the love for the grind have been slipping away piece by piece, now hope feels like something far off in the distance.
“I’m left wondering if I’ve ever get to that place again, this is what it’s like to lose your spark and the hardest part is still showing up every single day, hoping you’ll find it again.”
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