Polokwane City head coach Willy “Bayano”Moloto has confirmed that Bafana Bafana defender Thabang Matuludi will remain at the club for the upcoming season despite attracting interest from several Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams.
Matuludi enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Rise and Shine, establishing himself as one of the league’s top right-backs. His impressive performances also earned him a place in Hugo Broos’ World Cup qualifying squad, making him the only Polokwane City player selected for the national team.
Speaking to members of the media during the MaFori Cup at Seshego Stadium, newly appointed Polokwane City head coach Willy Machete dismissed speculation over the defender’s future.
“Thabang is staying with the team. he and I had a meeting you can see now when you look at the national team, it’s no longer about players playing for the big teams to get a call-up & It doesn’t make any sense that you go to a bigger team, but at the end of the day, you just get a salary, and you don’t achieve your goals”.
The defender is equally excited to continue his journey with the club, especially under Machete, having previously worked with the coach during his earlier spell at Polokwane City.
Machete is no stranger to the Polokwane City setup, with his return expected to bring continuity as the club prepares for the new PSL campaign. Keeping Matuludi is seen as a major boost for Rise and Shine as they look to build on last season’s progress.