Stellenbosch FC have officially bid farewell to Orlando Pirates-bound midfielder Mthetheleli Mthiyane, while simultaneously confirming the shock departure of midfielder Ibraheem Jabaar.
The Winelands-based side has been one of the busiest teams in the off-season, making adjustments to their squad for the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.
Stellies are in a rebuilding phase under head coach Gavin Hunt, who took over the coaching job halfway through the previous season to replace Steve Barker following the latter’s departure from the club for a new project at Simba SC.
Having spent the second half of the season at the helm of Stellenbosch, Hunt has made it clear that the Western Cape outfit will release a handful of players whom he described as ‘not deserving’ to be at the club.
Following the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign, Stellies parted ways with several notable names, including Oscarine Masuluke, Kazie Enyinnaya, Khomotjo Lekoloane, Dejean Ah Shene, Lee Langeveldt, Olisa Ndah, Wayde Jooste, Athenkosi Mcaba, and Kyle Jurgens, while Thabo Moloisane completed a switch to Kaizer Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Kobamelo Kodisang, and Asekho Tiwani have also left the club following the expiration of their respective loan deals.
On Friday afternoon, the club announced further exits, with Mthiyane officially joining Pirates ahead of the new season. In a surprise turn of events, the former Carling Knockout Cup champions also parted ways with Jabaar, who had been an integral part of the engine room.
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“Stellenbosch Football Club has bid farewell to midfielders Ibraheem Jabaar and Mthetheleli Mthiyane ahead of the 2026/27 season,” the club confirmed on its website.
“Former Nigeria youth international, Ibraheem Jabaar, has parted ways with Stellenbosch FC following the expiration of his contract after the parties were unable to reach an agreement on an extension.
“Jabaar ranks fourth on Stellenbosch’s all-time appearance list and holds the club record for the most outings by a foreign player, having featured 140 times across all competitions during his five-year spell in the Winelands.
“The 23-year-old is also the only player to have won the Maroons’ Young Player of the Season award on two occasions after claiming the accolade during the 2021-22 and 2024-26 campaigns.
“He is joined on the departure list by Mthetheleli Mthiyane, who has completed a permanent transfer to reigning Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates.
“Mthiyane joined Stellies from Milford FC at the start of the 2025-26 season and made 38 appearances in total during his sole campaign with the Club.
“His impressive performances in midfield earned him a first call-up to the preliminary Bafana Bafana squad in November, and later saw him nominated for Stellenbosch’s Rama Fans’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards. We wish to thank both Ibraheem and Mthetheleli for their dedicated service to the Club and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
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