Former Orlando Pirates coach brings in Stellenbosch FC attacker as ambitious PSL club looks to beat Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs to league title

Premier Soccer League team Stellenbosch has once again lost a key player in the January transfer window.

Despite playing just nine games in his debut season at Stellies, Lehlohonolo Bradley Mojela scored six goals to help his team secure the CAF Confederation Cup slot in the 2024/25 campaign.

In this edition, the 29-year-old has featured 15 times for the Western Cape Province outfit, but without a goal or an assist.

However, he had done enough to attract top teams in the South African top tier. 

Eric Tinkler, who worked for Orlando Pirates from 2013 to 2016, has now signed the experienced attacker for Sekhukhune United.

Babina Noko are the surprise package in the PSL race this season, and Mojela's acquisition will boost their title challenge.  

"Sekhukhune United have reached an agreement with Stellenbosch FC for the transfer of striker Lehlohonolo Bradley Mojela," iDiski Times reported.

"Sekhukhune pounced on the availability of the Stellies marksman with the 29-year-old expected to complete his medicals this week," they added.

In his interview with the media, former Stellies coach Barker had confirmed Mojela was to leave alongside Lesiba Nku after falling out with the management.

“There’s always a reason why one gets to these decisions; sometimes it just doesn’t work. It’s not working at that stage for both player and club,” he told Metro FM.

“I think Lesiba, at his age and quality, wants to be playing a lot more than he is. It does lead to some frustration at times. Bradley came to the club, started really well for us, and had a big, massive injury, was out for close to a year with his ACL. He’s struggled a bit to regain his mojo, confidence, and belief. Sometimes you have honest chats with each other as player and coach, and sometimes those situations require maybe a different club, a different move, just to refresh them and get their careers back on track. 

“I’ve got massive respect for both players, both as people and as footballers, and then whenever we reach these types of situations, it’s not taken lightly or easily. And they’re both very good footballers, but sometimes it’s just not working," the new Simba SC coach added.

“I don’t think there is anything bigger, as I said, it’s a question of whether it wasn’t working out. The player doesn’t necessarily speak to you face-to-face, one on one – you can see their frustrations, their disappointment.

“You can look at players and see they feel they should be playing; they want to be playing and are not currently getting the minutes, then it’s just best to make those difficult decisions. We know both Bradley and Lesiba will find clubs; there’s already been interest in both. It’s not a question of whether we keep them training and that, they need a little bit of a break also to refresh themselves," Barker added.

“They’ve got options if they want to continue training at the club, which is available to them, or if they just want to go home and refresh themselves whilst their agents look for them – that’s also a decision they can make.

“There are a number of clubs interested, the agent and player need to make the right decision, and we as club also. I don’t expect them to be with us after January," he concluded.

Sekhukhune United midfielder Thabang Monare insists Babina Noko are chasing the league this season and are determined to go all the way.

"For sure, we are in position three, so we are title contenders. But as I always say, we are taking each game at a time," Monare told Kick Off. 

"I feel like it's a bit overstretched if you are looking at it as a contender or someone who is gonna win it. But if you take it with a baby step approach, it becomes easier. Your most important game is your next one. The season is currently on a break, and the teams will come back looking different.

"We are a club that wants to improve and, taking each game as it comes, see how it goes," he concluded. 

This basically means Mojela has to hit the ground running to help his new team realise their objective.