POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA — The rebuilding phase at Sekhukhune United has officially swung into high gear. In a decisive move aimed at reshaping the club’s fortunes and lowering its squad age profile, the Limpopo-based Betway Premiership side has formally announced the departure of six senior players ahead of the 2026/27 domestic campaign.
In a public statement released by the club’s communications department, Babina Noko confirmed that they would not be offering new contract extensions to several of the league’s most recognizable veterans. The six-man casualties include decorated former Orlando Pirates midfield general Thabang Monare and former Mamelodi Sundowns defensive anchor Rivaldo Coetzee.
The radical squad trimming marks the official beginning of a major transition period at the club, as management looks to pave the way for a dynamic, youthful squad capable of breaking into the domestic top three next season.
Clearing out the Elite Veterans
The announcement represents an uncompromising statement of intent by the Sekhukhune United board. Rather than preserving structural stability, the club has chosen to part ways with a vast amount of veteran top-flight experience.
The list of the six departed players includes:
- Thabang Monare: The veteran midfielder joined Sekhukhune after a glittering, trophy-laden era at Orlando Pirates.
- Rivaldo Coetzee: A massively gifted defensive utility player who brought extensive continental pedigree from his dominant years at Chloorkop with Mamelodi Sundowns.
- Bradley Grobler: The veteran striker leaves after a short stint providing offensive coverage up front.
- Sikhosonke Langa: The robust defender parts ways after failing to lock down a permanent role in the starting XI.
- Katlego Mohamme: The auxiliary left-back is sacrificed as the club looks for fresh blood on the flanks.
- Ryan Baartman: The central defender departs to find regular first-team minutes elsewhere as a free agent.
“The Club has decided not to renew contracts of the following players: Bradley Grobler, Thabang Monare, Sikhosonke Langa, Katlego Mohamme, Ryan Baartman and Rivaldo Coetzee,” the official club statement read. “Thank you for your immense contribution towards Babina Noko, we wish you well in the next chapter of your careers.”
Paving the Way for Cedric Kaze’s Tactical Blueprint
The timing of this mass clearout is far from a coincidence. It arrives as the club prepares to welcome incoming head coach Cedric Kaze, who is expected to land in South Africa later this week to officially spearhead pre-season preparations.
Kaze, a tactical disciplinarian who favors a high-pressing, modern vertical system, reportedly requested a leaner, more mobile squad composition to properly implement his footballing philosophy. The departures of players like Monare (36) and Grobler (38) drastically lowers the team’s average squad age, allowing the club to pivot toward more energetic profiles in transition.
+--------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Club Feature | Sekhukhune United Structural Status (June 2026) |
+--------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Recent League Finish | 5th Position |
| Incoming Head Coach | Cedric Kaze |
| Key Structural Signings | Bethuel Muzeu, Athenkosi Mcaba, Thabang Mahlangu |
| Returning Loanee | Chibuike Ohizu (From Siwelele FC) |
+--------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
To counteract the loss of these veterans, the club’s recruitment department has already begun executing its replacement strategy. Babina Noko have completed the permanent signings of highly-rated defender Athenkosi Mcaba and forward Thabang Mahlangu to inject immediate energy into the side. Furthermore, lethal forward Bethuel Muzeu has been drafted in to shoulder the goalscoring burden, while striker Chibuike Ohizu returns to the club to provide much-needed offensive depth following his productive loan spell at Siwelele FC.
The Vision: Cracking the Elite Top Three
Sekhukhune United’s aggressive approach to the current transfer window stems from a desire to shed their label as perpetual mid-table dark horses. Having concluded the recent campaign in a highly respectable fifth position, the team’s leadership believes that a lack of dynamic depth and athletic output late in games ultimately cost them a coveted spot in the CAF Confederation Cup places.
With the mass clearout liberating significant space on the club’s wage bill, the hierarchy is positioned to remain highly aggressive in the open market before the domestic transfer window slams shut. By giving Cedric Kaze a blank slate and a youthful core built around rising stars, Babina Noko are gambling heavily on the future. It is a calculated risk, but one that the club feels is completely mandatory if they are to successfully challenge the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs at the absolute pinnacle of South African football.
