The future of Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa remains uncertain, as the club has not concluded contract discussions yet, the Siya crew understands.
Insiders close to the club have indicated that Pirates may not be planning to renew Mthethwa's contract when it concludes in June next year.
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According to a source close to the team, Pirates believe they currently have sufficient defensive options and are not inclined to extend Mthethwa's stay. Though, a final decision has not been made yet.
"He is one of the players they are looking at releasing at the end of the season as they are building a different defensive combination. Actually it's believed that his contract is coming to an end in June 2025 and the club is not showing signs of renewing it at the moment. They are believed to have defenders who will play most of the time ahead of him and they don't want to deprive him of playing regularly somewhere else and that's why they are set to release him," the Siya source stated.
A second source noted that an injury Mthethwa sustained during training has also influenced the club's decision.
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"You know he is yet to play a game for the team this season and it's due to an injury and that is also a contributing factor to the decision the team is expected to take regarding his contract. They are not looking at giving him a new contract and that is because they have enough defenders who can cover for each other even in his absence," the second source stated.
In central defence, Mthethwa faces competition from Thabiso Sesane, Nkosinathi Sibiso, Olisa Ndah, and Thapelo Xoki. He can also play right-back, a position where Pirates have Deano Van Rooyen, Thabiso Monyane, and Sandile Shandu, while the club is reportedly interested in adding Thabang Matuludi from Polokwane City to their ranks.
Attempts to reach Mthethwa's agent, Basia Michaels and Pirates for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
As Bucs evaluate their defensive roster, Mthethwa's future with the club remains uncertain. Balancing player performance and potential transfers, the club aims to build a robust line-up while providing opportunities for players like Mthethwa to pursue regular playing time elsewhere.
