Melusi Buthelezi ready to make his mark at Sekhukhune United after Pirates exit

Melusi Buthelezi has made an encouraging start to life at Sekhukhune United after leaving Orlando Pirates, with his form and experience set to play a key role in the current season.

The goalkeeper made only two appearances for Pirates last season, keeping one clean sheet and conceding one goal. Yet his contribution to the club extended well beyond his limited time on the pitch, and his departure could leave Pirates missing an important member of their squad.

Buthelezi joined Sekhukhune United during the current transfer window after a spell with Pirates in which he collected several trophies, including the Betway Premiership title won last season.

He was primarily the understudy to Sipho Chaine, but his influence remained significant. Buthelezi provided intense competition in training and regularly pushed the Bafana Bafana No 2 to maintain the standards that helped him remain Pirates’ first-choice goalkeeper.

Chaine enjoyed a record-breaking campaign, recording 21 clean sheets in 30 matches. Following Pirates’ league triumph, he acknowledged the role played by the club’s goalkeeping department, including Buthelezi, during an emotional interview with SuperSport TV.

“I would like to thank my teammates. I would like to thank the goalkeeping department. I would like to thank Melusi. What a teammate! What a brother!” said an emotionally charged Chaine during his post-match interview on SuperSport TV after Pirates were crowned league champions.

The relationship between the two goalkeepers reflected the unity within the Pirates goalkeeping group. Buthelezi appeared genuinely pleased by Chaine’s achievements, celebrating his team-mate’s success while continuing to offer competition, stability and support.

That support became even more valuable when goalkeeper coach Tyron Damons was ruled out for the season after a car accident. Siyabonga Mpontshane, the former Pirates goalkeeper, stepped in as coach and worked closely with both Chaine and Buthelezi.

Buthelezi’s professionalism may have helped Mpontshane take on the role more smoothly. His ability to remain positive and focused, despite limited opportunities, was also highlighted by his agent, Basia Michaels, who believed that his commitment would eventually lead to more playing time at Pirates.

The goalkeeper’s resilience was tested by serious personal adversity. Early in his Pirates career, he was hijacked and kidnapped. The incident came only months after he had been stabbed in Soweto while visiting family, when he was still playing for TS Galaxy as their first-choice goalkeeper.

A strong support structure helped Buthelezi deal with those experiences while continuing to challenge Chaine, who won back-to-back Betway Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season awards, broke records and established himself as a fully-fledged Bafana international.

Buthelezi’s personal life has also moved forward. He was frequently pictured on social media with his partner, Vuyelwa Magagula, and the couple married in June after Buthelezi paid lobola, or dowry.

He appears to be in a happier place and has begun strongly at Sekhukhune United, also known as Babina Noko. He kept two clean sheets in the team’s pre-season Mafori Cup success and followed that with another shutout in their league-opening victory over Durban City.

Buthelezi conceded three goals against AmaZulu in the MTN8 quarter-finals, although Sekhukhune United scored four times to progress to the semi-finals. Their reward is a meeting with defending champions Pirates, Buthelezi’s former club.

Before that match, he will be looking to record another clean sheet against Kaizer Chiefs in Wednesday night’s league meeting at FNB Stadium. Chiefs are the former club of Sekhukhune United coach Cedric Kaze.

Kaze is understood to value the quality and experience Buthelezi brings to his goalkeeping department. With more regular football this season, the goalkeeper has the opportunity to show that he belongs among the best in the league.

His move could ultimately benefit Buthelezi, but it has also left Pirates with a sizeable gap to fill. Chaine will now hope to find the same level of competition and camaraderie among the club’s remaining goalkeepers, including Siyabonga Dladla.

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