Former Orlando Pirates left back Phetso Maphanga has given insight into his failed move to Marumo Gallants before the start of this season, and further went onto explain why he has no regrets over his time with the Buccaneers.
Maphanga is currently a free agent after leaving Swallows FC in June 2021 and has been recovering from a shoulder injury he picked up while playing in a tournament following his departure from the Dube Birds. The 29-year-old was with the Dube Birds for just a season, in 2020/21, but was unable to break into the team with the likes of Thabo Matlaba and Sifiso Hlanti to compete with at the time, in the left back position.
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"The reason you are not seeing me in the DStv Premiership is because I had an injury. It was a bad injury, but now I have recovered. Hopefully, when the season starts, you will see me. After my contract with Swallows ended, before I got injured, I went on trial to Marumo Gallants in Polokwane. Unfortunately, they had a transfer ban at the time and they were not able to sign players. Thami Sangweni and I were there. We were meant to be signed, but then we ended up not signing. After the ban, coach Dan left and I was the one who had called him to try my luck there. So, I ended up not going back," he explained to the Siya crew.
"For now, I am still relaxed. I don't want to put pressure on myself and my agent is still trying to find a team, but I am still active by playing in tournament. I also keep fit with a team here in my township that plays in the ABC Motsepe League. I started training with them in December last year because I was injured. I had a shoulder injury, but now I play in some tournaments they play in. There was a Shaka Easter tournament and there was Zakhele Siwela tournament as well. I got the injury after I left Swallows."
Maphanga joined Pirates from Chippa United in January 2018 but, exactly a year later, asked to be loaned back to the Chilli Boys. While many might have chosen to wait for their opportunity to play regularly, Maphanga felt it would be best to get game-time elsewhere and has no regrets with the decision he made.
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"You must remember that when Pirates signed me, I signed in the second half of the season in January. So, I had to push myself to get into the line-up, which I did. Immediately when the season ended, they signed more players. You know teams like Pirates and Sundowns sign players who are hot at the time. They signed Paseka (Mako). When you don't get game-time, you ask your agent to make a plan. So I asked my agent if there is no way I could go back to Chippa to get game-time because being in the stands is frustrating. I went back to Chippa and I feel it was a good decision, because after that loan, I did not struggle to find a team. I went to Swallows. So, I have no regrets," he said.
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