Betway Premiership log leaders Sekhukhune United have bolstered their squad with the acquisition of right-back Tshepho Mashiloane from Orlando Pirates.
The defender joins the high-flying Sekhukhune on a season-long loan, with the move confirmed on Tuesday night as his parent club, the Soweto giants beat Siwelele FC 1-0 in a Betway Premiership tie in Bloemfontein.
The 23-year-old arrived at Pirates this season with high expectations, following a standout campaign with Baroka FC. However, his brief time with the Buccaneers was defined by limited opportunities for a starting spot. With coach Abdeslam Ouaddou overseeing a large squad, a loan move was deemed the ideal solution to afford the defender valuable game time elsewhere.
Against a backdrop of fierce competition from experienced campaigners such as Thabiso Lebitso, Deano van Rooyen, and Bandile Shandu, Mashiloane was limited to just two appearances out of a possible 11 in all competitions.
MASHILOANE JOINS SEKHUKHUNE IN SEARCH OF GAME TIME
The Limpopo-based side unveiled their new signing with a succinct message. “Defender Tshepho Mashiloane joins Sekhukhune United FC on loan from Orlando Pirates. Welcome to Babina Noko, Tshepo,” the club announced.
The move presents a golden opportunity for Mashiloane to gain valuable first-team experience at a club on the rise. He joins an ambitious Sekhukhune side that has had a blistering start to the season. Eric Tinkler’s troops are at the summit of the log standings with a remarkable 19 points from seven games.
With an impressive six wins and a single draw under their belt, Babina Noko has become one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. They will be hoping Mashiloane can seamlessly integrate into their winning formula.
For his part, he will be eager to quickly establish himself and add depth to his new team. Mashiloane will have an immediate opportunity to do so when Sekhukhune host Chippa United, who are at the bottom of the table. The game will be staged at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday.
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