It has certainly not been a seamless transition from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the DStv Premiership for the Shaun Bartlett-led Cape Town Spurs. The Parow-based outfit are currently propping up the table after losing all their four opening league matches, managing to score only a single goal, while conceding seven (before Wednesday's game against Moroka Swallows) in the process.
It might still be early in the season, but there must be a lot of anxiety and apprehension sweeping across the Ikamva office corridors. While the former Bafana Bafana striker is desperately in need of a proven goalscorer, the Siya crew has learned that he cannot utilise one of the players that helped the club win promotion to the elite division.
Boitumelo Radiopane, the 20-year-old marksman on loan from Orlando Pirates, is sidelined by an injury, but even if he recovers before the January transfer window, the Siya crew has been informed that he is unlikely to be registered to play in terms of the PSL rules.
According to Siya sources, PSL rules state that a club can only register three players on loan, and already the Urban Warriors have Luvuyo Phewa, Morne Nel and Siyanda Msani all signed on loan agreements, with Radiopane the fourth onloan player.
In any case, the Sebokeng-born star suffered a fracture during the promotional playoffs matches at the end of last season and has been ruled out by the medical department, at least until next January. Siya sources have indicated that even if the 'Radio-Man' recovers early next year, he cannot be registered during the current league campaign, at least until next season.
This is a serious blow to Bartlett and the newly-promoted side, who are struggling to get out of the blocks in their new environment and languishing at the foot of the table already.
What should the Cape Town club do with Radiopane this season? Share your views in the comments section below!
