Williams Hails Maseko Loan Move After World Cup Winner Against South Korea
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams believes Thapelo Maseko benefited immensely from his January loan move away from Mamelodi Sundowns, saying the switch helped the winger rediscover his confidence, happiness and best form after a difficult period.
Maseko endured a frustrating spell at Sundowns following the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, where he struggled for regular game time under the club’s coaching staff. His lack of minutes eventually saw him fall out of favour with Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who stopped selecting him for the national team as the winger battled to build momentum.
The situation also took a toll on the 23-year-old’s personal life. At the start of last season, Maseko shared an emotional message on Instagram, revealing that his limited playing opportunities had affected both his mental well-being and his love for the game.
In the heartfelt post, the former SuperSport United winger admitted that football no longer felt the same because of his situation, saying he was giving everything he had but still felt unseen.
In January, Maseko completed a loan move to Cypriot side AEL Limassol in search of regular first-team football. The move proved to be a turning point as he revived his career with a string of impressive performances, earning a recall to the Bafana Bafana squad.
His resurgence continued during South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, where he made a significant impact and scored the winning goal in the team’s final group-stage victory over South Korea.
Maseko was 22 years and 225 days old when he became the second-youngest World Cup goalscorer in South Africa’s history, sitting directly behind all-time legend Benni McCarthy.
Speaking about Maseko’s revival, Williams said the January move came at exactly the right time.
“I mean, this is special, and I think the move helped Maseko because he wasn’t in a very good space,” said Williams.
“And we saw glimpses of that during the second half of the season with the team he played for. When he came to the national team, we could see it. We could see the energy; he was dribbling, he looked fit, and he looked strong.
“Going into the tournament, we knew we had something. We knew we had a weapon in him because he is so deadly and powerful. He showed that at that level.
“I’m just happy for him that he’s in a good space. Whatever his future holds, I just hope he can go out there, perform and be happy.”
With Maseko’s loan spell at AEL Limassol now over, there has been no official announcement on whether he will return to Sundowns for the new season or continue his career abroad.
