TS Galaxy goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi set to join Orlando Pirates

He will become the third imminent transfer from The Rockets to a DStv Premiership rival following the sales of defenders Given Msimango and Tshegofatso Nyama to Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City respectively.

But this comes as no surprise after Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi told SABC Sport in an exclusive interview last month that this was part of their funding model. 

“We are a young club, but most importantly, one that is a new proposition to the game. So, we know exactly our levels – when we look at our club holistically, we realise that our business model is to develop and perfect as much talent as possible. Those who enter the next grade and can get to an international level, they need to be escalated to clubs that can exert football pressure on them,” Sukazi said at the time while confirming Msimango’s move to Chiefs. 

It's now emerged Buthelezi, who enjoyed an exceptional start to the 2022/23 campaign that will conclude in three weeks and earned a Bafana Bafana call-up in November last year, is close to joining the Buccaneers. 

The 25-year-old shot stopper has kept nine clean sheets from 19 league matches, and could have possibly improved those numbers had it not been for an injury that ruled him out of eight games. 

Galaxy are tied, coincidentally, with Pirates as the club with the second highest clean sheets behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Asked for an update on Buthelezi’s future, the player’s agent – as expected – denied what SABC Sport knows on good authority to be a looming move. 

“I can’t give you a comment on something that isn’t happening, should it happen and you ask me then I will let you know,” said Basia Michaels, who recently passed the much talked about FIFA agent exam. 

“The window opens 1 July – let’s see what movements happen, but I know Melusi is happy at Galaxy and we did a renewal about a year ago. But this is football and it doesn’t have a therefore so let’s see.”