Mamelodi Sundowns look set to offer one of the club's young goalkeepers, a new contract, with final details being ironed out.
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Sources close to the club have confirmed to the Siya crew, that Sundowns are believed to be eager to keep Sanele Tshabalala as a key player for the future, positioning him as an understudy to Rowen Williams and Denis Onyango.
"The initial plan was to loan him out and since nothing is happening at the moment and he has shown that he is willing to fight for his place. The club is rewarding him with a new contract. It's not a done deal yet, but I don't see anything stopping it. The good thing he is still young compared to the rest of the goalkeepers and that's an advantage to him," a source revealed to the Siya crew.
Indications are that a long-term extension with an improved salary at the Brazilians is on the cards for the shot-stopper.
"They are looking at giving him a long-term deal with at least an improved salary than the one in the initial contract. That just shows how much they value him. At the moment, I can't say how long the contract will be but it will be effective from July this year if all is agreed upon," the source added.
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The club may still look to find a suitable plan for Tshabalala to gain experience and playing time.
"The loan plans are still there. They want him to go a team where he will play more regularly so that when he comes back he can compete. You remember what they did with Denis Onyango? He went on loan at Bidvest Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces and he came back a different goalkeeper. They are doing the same with Ricardo Goss as well at SuperSport United. So they want to do the same with Sanele and let him grow as a player," the source told Soccer Laduma.
Tshabalala, who joined Sundowns in 2023, has yet to feature in an official match for the club but was named to the bench during Sundowns' 2-1 win against Stellenbosch FC earlier this season. Before joining the Brazilians, he played for junior teams at Bidvest Wits, Kaizer Chiefs, and Moroka Swallows.
