Thapelo Maseko swaps Chloorkop for Cyprus in vital European loan move

Mamelodi Sundowns winger Thapelo Maseko has officially completed a loan move to Cypriot First Division side AEL Limassol for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 22-year-old, who arrived at Chloorkop with high expectations in July 2023, is seeking a fresh start after a challenging period that saw him struggle for consistent game time under head coach Miguel Cardoso.

Maseko made an immediate impact during his debut season with the Brazilians, notably being named Player of the Tournament and Top Goalscorer during Sundowns’ inaugural African Football League triumph.

His explosive form earned him a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ivory Coast, where he helped South Africa secure a bronze medal.

However, an injury sustained during that continental showpiece proved to be a turning point; since then, he has found it difficult to reclaim his spot in a star-studded Sundowns lineup.

The Limassol Athletic Association announced the agreement on Tuesday, following Maseko's premature departure from the Sundowns training camp in Polokwane last week. The versatile attacker, capable of playing across the midfield and frontline, leaves Sundowns having made just seven appearances across all competitions this season, totalling only 129 minutes on the pitch with no goal contributions.

The move to Cyprus is seen as a strategic opportunity to secure regular minutes, as the winger’s path to the starting XI was further complicated by the recent high-profile signing of Monnapule Saleng from Orlando Pirates. Maseko’s frustration with a lack of minutes became public recently when he took to social media to candidly discuss his struggles, admitting that being sidelined was taking a mental toll on his love for the game.

Cyprus is rapidly becoming a familiar destination for South African talent. At AEL Limassol, Maseko will share a dressing room with compatriot Luther Singh, while Bafana Bafana teammate Mihlali Mayambela turns out for cross-town rivals Aris Limassol. Currently, AEL Limassol sits seventh in the league with 24 points from 17 matches, safely positioned above the relegation zone but trailing the leaders by a significant margin.