Orlando Pirates have confirmed that on-loan striker Tshegofatso Mabasa will not be eligible to face his parent club when Stellenbosch FC host the Buccaneers on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old forward joined the Cape Winelands outfit on loan in January and has made an immediate impact, scoring four goals since his arrival.
With Stellenbosch set to take on Pirates at Athlone Stadium, there had been growing speculation over whether Mabasa would be allowed to feature against his parent club.
However, the Soweto giants put the matter to rest on Monday, confirming the striker’s unavailability.
“The visit from the Soweto giants presents an opportunity to add a big scalp to their collection. It’s a task they will have to undertake without a few big names, including suspended defender Thabo Moloisane, who is banned for one match after accumulating yellow cards as well as on-loan striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who is unavailable for selection,” the club said in a statement.
Mabasa will not face Pirates
This is not the first time that Mabasa was loaned out by Pirates but in 2024 when he was loaned to Sekhukhune, he did feature against the Buccaneers.
Despite the absence of key players, Stellenbosch will take confidence from their impressive home form. They are unbeaten in the Cape since December, winning three of their last five matches while drawing the other two.
Pirates, meanwhile, head into the clash under pressure, knowing that victory is crucial to keep pace with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Anything less than three points could effectively end their title hopes, with just three matches remaining.