Mamelodi Sundowns' controversial loan clause could play a significant role in the Premiership title race with Orlando Pirates.
Should Pirates maintain their near perfect start in the Betway Premiership, the title could be decided by small margins, with Masandawana, given their experience, still arguably the favourites for the league title.
The Brazilians have been having a loan clause for a number of seasons now, where the players they have loaned out to other PSL clubs cannot play against them.
The issue was raised much with their loan transfer business with SuperSport United two seasons ago, where Matsatsantsa were deprived of the spine of the team, goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, Grant Margeman and Etiosa Ighodaro, who could not play against their parent club, at least twice in a season (and more should they meet in cup tournaments).
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The argument was that if United can't use their spine against Sundowns in two league matches, are The Brazilians not gaining unfair advantage, because the same players would be available against all other teams, barring injuries and suspensions.
Matsatsantsa took matters into their own hands after signing Margeman on a permanent transfer in July 2023, negotiated a two-year loan deal for Goss ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, that would make him eligible against his parent club and did not retain Ighodaro or take any other player on loan from Sundowns.
However, other teams in the Premiership have fallen for the temptation of The Brazilians players, as Sekhukhune United signed Sipho Mbule on loan ahead of the current campaign.
Mbule was on form for Babina Noko after playing four consecutive games since his debut but he was barred from playing his fifth consecutive match against his parent club Masandawana. The Tshwane giants went on to thrash Sekhukhune 3-0.
Ahead of the league encounter against AmaZulu on Christmas Eve, Downs will also pull out the loan clause, which will prevent Ighodaro and Sifiso Ngobeni from playing against them.
Since the loan clause applies on two league matches of a particular team against them, Masandawana could be gaining a a reasonable advantage, which tilts, to a certain extent, results in their favour.
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Pirates, however, may not be too worried, as they also employed the same loan clause on Siphelo Baloni, who had to sit out a match for Chippa United against his parent club in the opening game of the campaign.
The Soweto giants reviewed their loan agreement contracts, after Goodman Mosele scored against them while on loan at Chippa last season, a game that ended 1-1.
The Buccaneers edged The Chilli Boys 2-1 without Baloni, who could have made the difference for Kwanele Kopo's charges.