'A Taboo' - Orlando Pirates Legend Slams Thabiso Monyane's Decision to Sign For Kaizer Chiefs

The transfer of players directly between Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs has always been a contentious affair, and the latest moves in the Premier Soccer League have reignited the debate.

While names like Marks Maponyane, Jimmy Tau, and Lehlohonolo Majoro have famously crossed the divide in the past, such transfers remain a source of intense scrutiny, underscoring the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

In the most recent transfer window, full-backs Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako made the unexpected switch from the Buccaneers to Amakhosi, adding a new chapter to this storied history.

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Orlando Pirates' decision not to renew the contracts of Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako paved the way for their move to arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs. While the departure of the 31-year-old Mako was not entirely unexpected, Monyane's transfer to Amakhosi raised eyebrows, particularly as he was a product of the Pirates' own development system.

Despite a previous season hampered by injuries, the 24-year-old right-back was seen as a player with a bright future at the club, making his exit a genuine surprise. Former Pirates midfielder and assistant coach Teboho Moloi expressed his astonishment at the move.

"Honestly speaking, it is unheard of, or it was taboo back in the days, for a player to move from Chiefs to Pirates or from Pirates to Chiefs," Moloi told KickOff. "We know that one did it [Kaizer Motaung], and even though he went on to form his own great team, even in that time, it was something unexpected."

Moloi admitted he was taken aback by the departure of a homegrown talent. "I don’t know the true circumstances of why he left Pirates, but as a development product... it took me by surprise," he added. "This is a boy who graduated from our Under-19s... I wanted to see him grow with the team as one of our products."

Monyane's fitness struggles last season, where he was limited to just 12 appearances across all competitions, may offer a clue to Pirates' decision. The persistent injury issues could have made the Buccaneers comfortable with letting him go, a concern that seems to have followed him to Naturena.

His time at Chiefs has been similarly disrupted, with injuries limiting him to only seven league appearances so far. He has yet to feature for his new club in the CAF Confederation Cup or the Carling Knockout.

After a promising start to the season that earned him a recall to the Bafana Bafana squad, Monyane's stop-start campaign has seen him fall out of national team contention, jeopardizing his chances for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Both Monyane and Mako now face the challenge of proving that Orlando Pirates made a mistake in letting them go. They have a prime opportunity at Kaizer Chiefs to resurrect their careers and show their true capabilities once they regain full fitness.

The pressure is also on to validate Amakhosi's decision to sign them, especially as Mako also arrived with an injury that saw him miss the pre-season tour. The upcoming matches will be a crucial test, ultimately revealing whether the Soweto giants made the right calls in this controversial transfer saga.