It has been confirmed why an on-form AmaZulu defender is unlikely to join Orlando Pirates in January, and why he can do so at the end of the season.
Following Pirates’ decision to send Thembela Sikhakhane to AmaZulu on loan for the 2018/19 season, the defender has received a new lease of life at the KwaZulu-Natal outfit, as he has been playing regularly and at his best with his performances under coach Cavin Johnson.
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Word doing the rounds in the football fraternity is that Bucs could be interested in bringing Sikhakhane back to the club before the expiry of his loan stint, with the Soweto giants having done so in the past – ending a player’s loan spell prematurely – as was the case with Thembinkosi Lorch, who was recalled from a loan stint with Chippa United, after the first half of the 2016/17 season.
However, as reported in edition 1094 of Soccer Laduma, a return to the Buccaneers during the January transfer window for Sikhakhane seems unlikely at this point in time.
Contacted for comment, the 25-year-old right back’s representative, Mike Makaab from Prosport International, told the Siya crew that a move for the defender during the January transfer window is unlikely to happen.
“(He is) on loan for the season. (A return to Pirates in January is) highly unlikely,” confirmed Makaab.
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According to the statistics collected so far this season, Sikhakhane is second on the list of AmaZulu players with the most touches (58), and he is behind Marc van Heerden who has 72 touches on top of the charts. On the shot assists category, Sikhakhane is joint second on the list with winger Ovidy Karuru on 1 each, and they are behind striker Emiliano Tade, who is on 4.
Sikhakhane has 41 passes and is second on the list in this category behind Van Heerden with his 46 passes. Of the 41 passes for Sikhakhane, 32 have been successful and competes in this category with creative players in the likes of Nhanhla Vilakazi (32), Jabulani Ncobeni (33), as well as Van Heerden at the top of the charts with 36 successful passes.
Sikhakhane’s contract with Bucs runs until June 2021, as confirmed by his representative from Prosport International.
