Masuluke cleared to make Polokwane City return against Kaizer Chiefs

Oscarine Masuluke’s registration with Polokwane City is expected to be completed this week, making the goalkeeper eligible for selection against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.

Polokwane City host Kaizer Chiefs at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium at 15:00, with Masuluke now set to provide an option between the posts after a delay relating to his registration card was resolved.

The 33-year-old has been training with Polokwane City since 20 August, having joined the club as a free agent. His contract with Stellenbosch FC expired at the end of June and was not renewed, bringing his three-year spell with the Winelands club to an end.

Masuluke’s arrival follows a period of change and uncertainty in Polokwane City’s goalkeeping department.

Kenyan goalkeeper Brian Bwire left after rejecting the club’s offer of a contract extension. He has since returned to Tusker FC, creating a vacancy that the Limpopo club needed to address.

Polokwane City initially placed their trust in Lindokuhle Mathebula, who featured for much of the second half of last season and at the beginning of the current campaign. However, an injury earlier this season left the club with Ayanda Ngwenya and Mashudu Makhavhu as their remaining goalkeeping options.

Ngwenya started the defeat by Sekhukhune United, but his limited experience was exposed in the subsequent 2-2 draw with Marumo Gallants. He was withdrawn at half-time in that match, increasing the urgency for Polokwane City to strengthen their goalkeeping options.

That situation prompted the club to pursue Masuluke, whose arrival has been followed by a wait for the administrative issues surrounding his registration to be settled.

Those problems have now been resolved, clearing the final obstacle to his availability. If the registration process is completed as expected, Masuluke can be considered for Polokwane City’s meeting with Kaizer Chiefs this weekend.

Masuluke has previous experience of facing the Soweto club. He has played against Kaizer Chiefs seven times, with the latest encounter coming last season in the Carling Knockout while he was with Stellenbosch FC.

His potential return to competitive selection would therefore come against familiar opposition, although his immediate availability depends on the registration process being formally completed during the week.

For Polokwane City, the move provides additional depth at a position that has been affected by Bwire’s departure, Mathebula’s injury and the pressure placed on the club’s younger goalkeeping options. Masuluke’s experience could now be available for the visit of Kaizer Chiefs at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.