Championship side Sunderland have emerged as the English club showing interest in Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, according to sources close to the situation.
The Black Cats, a former Premier League outfit currently fighting for promotion, are said to have kept tabs on Mabasa during scouting trips to monitor another Pirates talent, Thalente Mbatha. Impressed by what they saw, Sunderland are believed to have stepped up their interest in the 28-year-old striker.
Mabasa has attracted attention after being the South African Premier Division’s top scorer last season, netting 16 goals. Though this campaign has been more competitive in Pirates’ attack, he has still managed five goals in 18 appearances.
Scout interest sparked during Mbatha assessment
Insiders have indicated that Sunderland’s interest in Mabasa came as a result of their original focus on midfielder Mbatha. While tracking the latter, the English club were reportedly impressed with Mabasa’s movement, hold-up play, and finishing instincts.
“So, Sunderland are the club interested in Tshegofatso Mabasa,” a source told the Siya crew. “When the scouts came to look at Mbatha, they were also happy with Mabasa and they had to assess him further in other games and apparently they were happy and they have enquired about him.”
The move, however, may not be straightforward. Despite his clear talent, there are doubts over whether Mabasa meets the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit work permit requirements. One of the key factors is the number of recent senior international caps, and Mabasa has not featured regularly for Bafana Bafana.
A second source expressed concern that this could derail any potential move:
“You know in the UK you should play a certain number of national team games for you to qualify for their work permit… will he qualify for that? That’s where the problem could be.”
As things stand, Sunderland’s interest remains in the early stages. No official bid has been tabled, but the Black Cats are understood to be seriously considering their options as they plan for the next transfer window.
Writer’s view
There’s no question that Tshegofatso Mabasa has the qualities to succeed in a more physical league like the Championship. His eye for goal and ability to lead the line are attributes any second-tier club would welcome. But in today’s post-Brexit football landscape, paperwork and caps matter as much as talent. If Sunderland want him, they’ll need a creative approach—or Mabasa will need to force his way back into the national team setup.
