Bafana Bafana star midfielder Sphephelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole “will leave” CD Tondela FC at the end of this season, according to the player’s agent Manuel Tomas, who also revealed interest from a Serie A club.
This comes after Sithole performed well in the Africa Cup of Nations, playing in all seven games as Bafana claimed the bronze medal for the first time in 24 years after beating DR Congo on penalties on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was at his best in the Round of the 16 against Morocco and the semi-final against Nigeria, helping in the defense while also driving the ball forward.
The former KZN Academy graduate has featured in 12 matches for CD Tondela in Liga Portugal 2, the second division, scoring two goals along with two assists.
Sithole’s contract with Tondela will expire at the end of next season, but his agent insisted that a player of his quality should play in a higher league.
“Of course, we want to transfer him, but the club wants €3 million (R61,551,300 in today’s exchange rate), but in the second league it is very difficult [to get that kind of offer],” Tomas told iDiski Times from Portugal.
“But we need to think about the next step for Yaya, it is very important now. He’s 24 and all the people in Africa or the world know there is a good midfielder in the second league in Portugal, who played very well against players playing in the Premier League or other big leagues.
“But we are waiting for a good opportunity and the next step is very important of course. But he will move at the end of the season.
“[If it doesn’t happen] Yaya can stay another year in the league [and wait for his contract to expire at the end of next season] but he will move, for sure.”
Tomas’ confidence that Sithole will leave comes based on his top performances at the AFCON.
“Of course,” Tomas said without hesitation, before adding.
“I have my contacts in Portugal, I spoke with them before he went for the AFCON, they know Yaya, they know a player like him he can’t play in the second division.”
Tomas confirmed that he has a proposal coming from a club in Italy but could not reveal the identity.
“It is better not to talk about it but there is a proposal in the Serie A,” said Tomas.
“As I said, he doesn’t deserve to play in the second league, and I need to do my best to transfer him away from Tondela.”
Sithole, who played for Belenenses between 2019 and 2023 in the top flight in Portugal, has featured in 16 matches for Bafana. He made his debut for Hugo Broo’s side against Morocco in the AFCON qualifiers in June 2022.