Orlando Pirates youngster sent out on loan

Orlando Pirates’ promising midfielder Azola Tshobeni has been sent out on a season long loan for the rest of the 2021/22 Premier Soccer League campaign.

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The 19 year-old midfielder ,who made a couple of appearances for the Buccaneers under the guidance of Josef Zinnbauer last season, will now be playing his football in the GladAfrica Championship with JDR Stars, the lower league side confirmed on Tuesday, as well as confirming the arrival former South Africa junior national team player Malebogo Modise, who joins the club from Mamelodi Sundowns.

“N???????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? !!???? Azola Tshobeni (Central Midfielder) joins the Hammerboyz on loan from Orlando Pirates. Malebogo Modise (Left Back) joins Hammerboyz on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns #GladAfricaChampionship #Hammerboyz,” said the National First Division side on Twitter.

Tshobeni only got promoted to the first team early last year after some impressive performances for Pirates DStv Diski Challenge, graduating to the senior team alongside defender, Thabiso Sesane, who has also impressed in his appearances for the Soweto giants.

Tshobeni made his Bucs DStv Premiership debut last year in January, and it was a first match any youngster would have asked for – playing over 70 minutes for the Buccaneers in a clash with with Maritzburg United, which Bucs won 1-0 thanks to a Deon Hotto goal.

Tshobeni’s loan move is certainly about offering the player game time elsewhere, with the Bucs squad having welcomed plenty of new faces this season and competition for a place in the starting line-up set to be very tough.

Pirates were said to be considering sending two of their experienced midfielders Linda Mntambo and Collins Makgaka on loan to open up some space.

Now, with Tshobeni gone, new signings Goodman Mosele and Ntsako Makhubela will be competing for a place in the team with Mntambo, Makgaka, Fortune Makaringe, Thabang Monare and Ben Motshwari, to mention a few in the Bucs midfield.

Meanwhile, at JDR Stars, Tshobeni will also have to ensure he is at best all the time to be guaranteed a starting berth.