Conditions to Thamsanqa Gabuza’s pending move to Stellies revealed

As reported by SABC Sport earlier this month, Senegalese forward Mamour Niang has been added to coach Gavin Hunt’s roster for the second half of the season, pending the finalisation of a work permit and other documents.

His arrival, therefore, paves the way for Gabuza, 35, to be sold. 

Sources at the club have informed the public broadcaster’s sports desk that this is the hold-up even if the ex-Orlando Pirates striker has already agreed personal terms with a Stellenbosch side struggling at the moment. 

Gavin Hunt, coach of SuperSport, told journalists on Sunday following their 1-1 draw with Richards Bay -- a DStv Premiership game in which Gabuza came off the bench to score the equaliser, that the move was financially viable.

“Well, it’s a budget thing. Obviously, we are bringing Niang now and there’s questions around age, plus an opportunity for the boy to get an extension. I am not sure if this thing is going to happen, maybe it will,” explained Hunt.

“We will have Niang, Bradley [Grobler] and Thabang [Sibanyoni] – we’ve got three nines. It’s unfortunate, but that is football and it is [about] budgets and what we have to work with. I don’t know how it’s going to work, I’ve just heard it. I haven’t even spoken to Gabuza about it.” 

The coach admits it will be a big loss for SuperSport in the dressing room. 

“He is a big personality, but I think clubs have to move on a little bit when you’ve got strikers at 35 – I am not saying we must get rid of him now. I know Bradley is also in his 30s, [but] the club needs to look at the future.” 

Gabuza joined the side nearly four years ago and has scored just 22 goals in 105 matches, which at his age, Hunt argues, shows he has reached the ceiling. 

“Old players age quickly. They don’t take a year to age, they age in three weeks. I am not saying him [Gabuza], but any player.

"But I can’t be selling a Teko Modise and then can’t get an Elias Pelembe in, which we did [in his first spell at SSU in 2007]. It was a revelation. You can’t have just anyone coming in, you need a starting player,” the coach concluded.