Kruger United close in on former Pirates midfielder Thuso Moleleki

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Thuso Moleleki is close to joining Betway Premiership newcomers Kruger United after the Bushbuckridge-based club moved late to beat Lerumo Lions to his signature.

The 24-year-old had been expected to join Motsepe Foundation Championship side Lerumo Lions after leaving Orlando Pirates recently, following a loan spell with Orbit College.

However, Kruger United made a late approach and appear to have persuaded Moleleki to return to top-flight football. The midfielder had already been training with Lerumo Lions, but the newly promoted side has now emerged as the leading candidate to secure his services.

A source at Lerumo Lions said an agreement with Moleleki had been close before Kruger United entered the negotiations.

“Thuso Moleleki got an offer from Kruger. We were about to conclude a deal but opted to let him go back to the Premier League. He should be unveiled as a Kruger player if all goes well,” the source told Soccer Laduma.

Moleleki recently ended his association with Orlando Pirates after spending time away from the club on loan at Orbit College. His proposed move to Lerumo Lions had appeared to be the next step in his career, particularly after he was seen taking part in training with the Motsepe Foundation Championship team.

That situation has changed following Kruger United’s intervention. The club’s late bid has given Moleleki the opportunity to remain in the top division and offers the newly promoted team another potential addition as it prepares for the demands of Betway Premiership football.

The midfielder could be formally unveiled by Kruger United in the coming days, with the transfer understood to be in its final stages. The move would represent a significant coup for a club preparing for its first campaign among the country’s top-flight teams.

Lerumo Lions’ sporting director Elasto Kapowezha was approached by Soccer Laduma for comment but was unavailable when the report was published.

Moleleki’s training spell with Lerumo Lions had suggested that the Championship club was in pole position to complete the deal. Kruger United’s late offer, however, has seemingly altered the outcome, leaving the Bushbuckridge-based outfit on the brink of signing the former Orlando Pirates player.

The transfer is not yet officially complete, and Moleleki’s unveiling remains dependent on the final stages of the agreement. If everything is concluded as expected, he will join Kruger United rather than Lerumo Lions and return to the top flight after his recent spell with Orbit College.