Hunt Wants Mabasa On Loan
Stellenbosch are interested in signing Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who has struggled for game time at the Buccaneers this season.
The club’s new head coach, Gavin Hunt, is eager to bolster his attacking options and is keen on securing Mabasa on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Mabasa’s limited involvement at Pirates has raised concerns, particularly following the arrival of Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Evidence Makgopa and Yanela Mbuthuma have both been preferred ahead of Mabasa, restricting his opportunities to showcase his abilities.
The 29-year-old is currently part of Pirates’ camp in Rustenburg as they prepare for the second half of the season, but he has not featured in the team’s last eight matches across all competitions.
This includes their Carling Knockout Cup final victory over Marumo Gallants earlier last month.
In December 2025, Mabasa removed Orlando Pirates from his Instagram bio, fuelling speculation about his future at the club. Despite being Pirates’ second all-time leading goal scorer, the striker appears to be outside Ouaddou’s plans for the current season.
A loan move would not be unfamiliar territory for the former Bloemfontein Celtic forward. He spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Moroka Swallows before being recalled by Pirates for the second half of the campaign.
Mabasa went on to win the PSL Golden Shoe award in the 2023/24 season, scoring 16 goals — six for Swallows and 10 for Pirates.
Should Mabasa complete a move to the 2023 Carling Knockout champions, it would mark Hunt’s first signing since taking over from Steve Barker, who departed for Simba SC in Tanzania.
