The winds of change are blowing through Chloorkop, and one of the first casualties of Mamelodi Sundowns’ off-season shake-up appears to be veteran goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse. As the club prepares for a squad overhaul ahead of the 2025/26 season, sources close to the club have confirmed that Pieterse is set to be released, with his contract not expected to be renewed.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper has found game time hard to come by since joining Sundowns in 2018 from SuperSport United. Despite being part of a highly successful squad that dominated domestic football and made waves in CAF competitions, Pieterse has largely been used as a backup, playing behind the likes of Denis Onyango, Ronwen Williams, and Ricardo Goss.
With Sundowns eyeing a younger, more dynamic squad to challenge for silverware both locally and on the continent, the technical team—led by head coach Miguel Cardoso—is believed to be prioritizing a reshuffle in the goalkeeping department. The club has already been linked with a few promising local and international goalkeepers, signaling a fresh direction in that department.
Insiders say the decision to part ways with Pieterse is “purely technical” and not due to any disciplinary or performance-related issues. “Reyaad has been a true professional at Sundowns,” one source revealed. “But the reality is that the club is moving in a new direction and wants to bring in younger players who can be long-term assets.”
Pieterse’s departure would open up a spot for rising talents in the Sundowns development ranks, while also giving the club room to register a new foreign player if needed—given the tight registration rules in CAF competitions.
Though he’s likely on his way out of Chloorkop, Pieterse is not expected to be short of suitors. A number of DStv Premiership clubs are said to be monitoring his situation, particularly those in need of an experienced, composed presence between the posts.
As the axe hovers and the transfer broom begins its sweep, Reyaad Pieterse’s six-year chapter at Mamelodi Sundowns appears to be closing. What lies ahead could be a new opportunity for the former Bafana Bafana keeper—and a bold new era for the Brazilians.
