CONFIRMED: SuperSport United Sign Former Pirates Defender

SuperSport United have announced the signing of former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana defender Thulani Hlatshwayo. ‘Tyson as he’s affectionately known left the Buccaneers at the end of the previous season.

Apparently, Hlatshwayo is the one who requested to be released by Sea Robbers following a limited game time issue he had this past season. Now Hlatshwayo will reunite with club’s new coach Gavin Hunt who was mentoring him at Bidvest Wits.

“SuperSport United is delighted to announce the arrival of former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo on a one-year deal with an option to renew,” SuperSport said in the statement.

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“The 32-year old reunites with head coach Gavin Hunt after a wonderful spell at Bidvest Wits between 2014 and 2020, winning the league title as well as the Telkom-Knock Out trophy.

“Hlatshwayo comes to the club with a wealth of experience having played over 300 domestic games and captained Bafana Bafana with just over 30 caps under his belt.

“Head coach, Gavin Hunt is excited on the club’s new acquisition, ‘The signing of “Tyson” is a wonderful addition for the club and he comes with a lot of experience.

‘He was the Bafana Bafana captain as well as my captain at Bidvest Wits, we won trophies together and he’s definitely ready to get working and to get going again. It’s a huge opportunity for him and for us at the club.’

“Thulani Hlatshwayo adds, ‘SuperSport United is a team that is known to win trophies and I hope I can share my experience which means I have to equally work hard. There is competition in the team which is good for the energy around the players as well as keeping the togetherness and I will make sure I earn my right to play,” the statement added.

MATSATSANTSA TO LOSE WILLIAMS?

It’s not a secret that Ronwen Williams might be on his way to join Mamelodi Sundowns. The player himself expressed a burning desire to play for SuperSport’s cross-town rivals. Now SuperSport’s CEO Stan Matthews has admitted that the shot-stopper is likely to leave soon.

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“It’s never just a straight forward situation because there’s negotiations and discussions. There’s nothing that’s been advanced to any level that I can contretize right now, but once I’ve sat down with Gavin over the weekend and look at different permutations on how we can freshen up the team and what kind of replacements we can (get), then I will have a clearer picture in my own mind how viable the sale of Ronwen will be,” Matthews told media after a press conference where they unveiled Hunt as coach on Thursday.

“It’s likely that he will leave, but as I say, it’s something that I’ve got to sit down and discuss with Gavin. If we can’t get the right replacement… Gavin is very strong on the spine of the team and that starts with the keeper. Ronwen is the national team goalkeeper and he is our most capped player. He is our captain and our poster child. He is our longest serving player, so it’s not a normal trading of a player.”