Asekho Tiwani: South African Defender Leaves Mamelodi Sundowns, Joins PSL Rivals
- South African young defender Asekho Tiwani has decided to leave Mamelodi Sundowns for a move to Stellenbosch FC for the rest of the 2025-206 season
- The Amajita captain struggled to break into Miguel Cardoso's starting line-up since his top-class performance at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt
- The 20-year-old will compete with a former Kaizer Chiefs player for a place in Gavin Hunt's starting line-up at the Stellies for the rest of the 2025-26 season
Stellenbosch FC have reinforced their defensive options by securing the services of Mamelodi Sundowns full-back Asekho Tiwani, following the exit of Azerbaijani defender Turan Manafov.
Source: Getty Images
The acquisition comes at a crucial time as the Winelands outfit prepares for a demanding 2025/26 season that includes both domestic and continental commitments.
The Stellies sold Fawaaz Basadien to Sundowns in the summer, but the Bafana Bafana is yet to break into Miguel Cardoso's starting line-up, which is also why Tiwani also decided to leave on loan.
Tiwani joins Stellenbosch FC from Sundowns
The 20-year-old has joined Stellies on a short-term loan from Sundowns, a deal initially reported by a top SA media outlet, as he looks to gain consistent game time after limited opportunities in Pretoria. Tiwani made the switch to Masandawana from Sekhukhune United in mid-2024, but struggled to cement a regular place in a highly competitive squad.
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At Chloorkop, the young defender faced stiff competition from experienced campaigners Aubrey Modiba and Basadien, as well as Thato Sibiya, who was named the Man of the Match in Masandawana's win over Orbit College in the Betway Premiership.
He is yet to feature this season, after recording 15 appearances in the previous campaign, 11 of which came as starts, with four outings off the bench.
Widely regarded as one of South Africa’s brightest prospects, Tiwani recently underlined his credentials on the international stage at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, where he delivered assured performances against top global opposition.
Blessed with speed and well-suited to the demands of the modern wing-back role, Tiwani is expected to link up with the Stellenbosch squad immediately upon their return from CAF competition in Algeria.
Tiwani in, Manafov out for Stellenbosch FC
Tiwani’s arrival aligns with the departure of Turan Manafov, who is set to return to Azerbaijan after securing a loan move to Gabala FC for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old joined Stellenbosch at the beginning of the current campaign but will now continue his career back home.
Despite his short stay in the Western Cape, Manafov offered valuable depth, featuring 10 times across the Betway Premiership and domestic cup competitions. His exit frees up both a foreign-player slot and a positional vacancy within the squad, paving the way for Tiwani’s inclusion.
Newly appointed head coach Gavin Hunt is likely to value Tiwani’s tactical flexibility. Notably, all four of his starts at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup came in a central defensive role, where he also wore the captain’s armband for Amajita.
Source: Getty Images
Nevertheless, the young South African defender will face competition for a starting berth at Stellenbosch FC, with Kaizer Chiefs academy graduate, Omega Mdaka, also vying for a place in the heart of the defence.
Bafana star leaves Sundowns for Europe
Briefly News also reported that a Bafana Bafana star has left Sundowns for a move to Europe after failing to make Cardoso's starting line-up.
The South African international is seeking enough playing time as he looks forward to making Bafana Bafana's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
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Source: Briefly News
