Orlando Pirates have joined Mamelodi Sundowns in exercising a controversial loan rule - but does it help?
Pirates had to review their loan agreements with PSL clubs during the off-season, after they dropped two points early last campaign following a 1-1 draw against Chippa United, where they were denied maximum points by their own player - on loan at the Chilli Boys.
The Buccaneers had a relaxed approach in loaning out players, particularly given their relationship with Chippa over the years, as Goodman Mosele was allowed to play against his parent club.
Read: Pirates Update On Lepasa Mosele
However, it was Mosele who silenced the Soweto giants' crowd at Orlando Stadium in August last year, after his equaliser was a bitter pill to swallow for the Buccaneers.
Pirates eventually recalled the Bafana Bafana midfielder, who is currently injured, for the current season and although they loaned the Chilli Boys Siphelo Baloni, the former All Stars midfielder was barred from playing against his parent club in the Betway Premiership opener in midweek, as the Buccaneers won 2-1.
However, other PSL clubs could start protesting against the controversial loan clause, after SuperSport United, who usually had players on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns banned from playing against their parent club, refused such an agreement ahead of the current campaign.
Matsatsantsa only agreed to make a loan deal with The Brazilians on goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, on condition that he plays against his parent club and United passed on the opportunity to have the likes of Thabang Sibanyoni and Etiosa Ighodaro, who would not have been eligible to play when they faced Sundowns.
However, despite having Goss in goal against his parent club The Brazilians in the league opener, SuperSport still went on to lose 2-0, although they did not struggle as much, compared to when they would have three players on loan from Sundowns barred from facing their actual employers.
Read: Pirates Coach Runs The Rule On R10m Signing
It is perhaps for the exact same reason that Chippa negotiated a permanent transfer of Azola Matrose from Pirates during the off-season, instead of taking him again on loan, where he could have been barred from facing the skull and crossbones.
Matrose did not get fit in time to face the Buccaneers in midweek, after he returned to Gqeberha in the off-season still in a rehabilitation phase following injury he picked up at the Soweto giants.
