Former Orlando Pirates winger Lebohang ‘Cheeseboy’ Mokoena has weighed in on the growing uncertainty surrounding Tshegofatso Mabasa’s future, naming a specific club where he believes the out-of-favour striker should land.
The talented frontman has found it difficult to break into Abdeslam Ouaddou’s line-up since the coach took over before the start of the 2025/26 PSL season.
Mabasa has only played nine games across all competitions and scored four goals for the Sea Robbers in the current campaign.
The marksman was Jose Riveiro’s most trusted lieutenant last season, leading the line with 15 goals in 48 matches to finish as the club’s top scorer. His pedigree is well-established at Mayfair, having also secured the club’s top-scorer accolade the season before while finishing as a serious contender for the Betway Premiership Golden Boot.
Mabasa’s future with the Buccaneers has come under intense scrutiny as he enters the final stages of his contract, which is set to expire in June 2026. Speculation regarding a potential exit reached a fever pitch recently after the former Bloemfontein Celtic marksman scrubbed ‘Orlando Pirates player’ from his official Instagram bio—a move often seen in the modern era as a precursor to a transfer.”
LEBOHANG MOKOENA BACKS SUNDOWNS AS FRONT-RUNNERS FOR MABASA SIGNATURE
Mokoena has identified Mamelodi Sundowns as a leading contender for Mabasa’s signature, citing the Tshwane giants’ formidable financial muscle as a decisive factor. The former winger noted that the Brazilians’ ability to offer lucrative terms often makes them the first choice for high-profile talent in the PSL.
However, Mokoena, who also played for Sundowns refused to rule out a sensational move to Kaizer Chiefs, acknowledging that the lure of Naturena remain strong despite the fierce rivalry with the Buccaneers. For a striker of Mabasa’s pedigree, Mokoena believes both African heavyweights represent viable escape routes from his current frustrations at Mayfair.
“I always vowed that he might make the move to Chiefs. But you know, crossing the floor [moving from Pirates to Chiefs] can never be overlooked. However, if you look at a team like Sundowns as well, I think they stand a better chance because of their financial muscle,” said Mokoena on the SoccerBeat podcast.
“So, I think if Sundowns put in a bigger offer for him, he will definitely take that offer from Sundowns. Remember also, we are considering Mabasa’s age. He’s also trying to put food on the table and retire with a good financial backup.
“I don’t think he will settle for what he’s getting at Orlando Pirates if he goes to Kaizer Chiefs. However, I wouldn’t feel bad if he joins Chiefs either. I mean, look at his progression; he missed out on actually getting into the Bafana Bafana [2025] AFCON team because he hasn’t been playing.
“He’s somebody who has been scoring, which is something we are lacking in our country as well. If you look at our Bafana squad, we don’t really have enough strikers—maybe three or four. If things don’t go well, we need a player like Mabasa, who has goals in him. But obviously, this move is coming at a time when the boy is going to miss AFCON and needs to weigh his options in terms of where he will go and what’s going to happen.”
Most recently, Pirates coach Ouaddou clarified his decision on Mabasa’s omission, stating that it is purely tactical rather than personal. He emphasised that while he holds the striker in high regard as a finisher, his “demanding game model” requires a specific defensive work rate that Mabasa currently lacks.
The Moroccan tactician explained that his system relies on high-intensity pressing and constant running—qualities he currently finds in other options like Boitumelo Radiopane, Evidence Makgopa and Yanela Mbuthuma—noting that modern football requires strikers to be as efficient without the ball as they are with it.
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