Thabiso Sesane’s suspension extended to two matches after red card

Thabiso Sesane’s difficult start to life at Siwelele FC has suffered another setback after his red-card suspension was increased from one match to two.

The 26-year-old central defender will miss Tuesday’s meeting with Chippa United after already sitting out Siwelele FC’s defeat by AmaZulu FC.

Sesane was dismissed in only his second appearance for his new club after receiving a second yellow card. Under the usual punishment, he would have been suspended for one match, but the league has upgraded the ban to two games.

The reasons for the decision have not been established. The match was officiated by Cedric Muvhali, while SAFA’s head of referees was unavailable when the report was compiled.

The latest disruption comes as Sesane attempts to rebuild his career and establish himself as a regular after leaving Orlando Pirates during the winter.

He had started both of Siwelele FC’s opening matches and appeared to have been given an immediate opportunity to become a first-choice defender. However, the dismissal means his progress has been interrupted before he has been able to build momentum.

Sesane is regarded as one of the league’s most polished central defenders when fully fit, although his time under contract at Orlando Pirates was marked by a number of setbacks.

He joined the Bucs first team six years ago and made his senior debut under Josef Zinnbauer. By the end of the 2020/21 season, after making seven appearances, he was sent on loan to Jomo Cosmos in the First Division.

That spell ended with Jomo Cosmos being relegated, while Sesane was restricted to limited playing time. He subsequently moved to Cape Town All Stars on another loan agreement.

After spending two years in the second tier, Sesane returned to Orlando Pirates, where he again had to compete for opportunities within the squad.

A run of appearances towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign offered greater encouragement, with his quality becoming increasingly apparent. The following season developed into the best period of his career to that point, and his performances earned him a call-up to Bafana Bafana.

His progress was checked by an injury in February 2025. He played only once after that setback before departing Orlando Pirates during the winter transfer period.

Siwelele FC now represents a fresh opportunity for Sesane to secure regular football and regain consistency. His early involvement suggested he would be able to make an immediate contribution, but the extended suspension means he will have to wait before returning to the side.

The league’s decision leaves him unavailable for two matches rather than the standard one-game ban associated with a second yellow card. No further explanation had been provided at the time of publication.

A promotional note included with the original report stated: “SuperSportBet is best for PSL and Springboks betting fans & mobile-first punters on prepaid data.”