Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘It is difficult!’ Mofokeng plays 90, Lungu gets his prize, ‘Not yet’ Masilela? And more…

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Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘It is difficult!’ Mofokeng plays 90, Lungu gets his prize, ‘Not yet’ Masilela? And more…

Latest Orlando Pirates news in the last 24 hours, including a tough CAF Champions League date, Gamphani Lungu gets his prize, Mzansi told they haven’t seen anything on Simphiwe ‘Vempi’ Masilela and more.

Pirates latest news

Ouaddou underlines importance of getting positive outing

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained the importance of securing positive result against African Stars in the second round of the CAF Champions League preliminary qualifiers.

Pirates travel to Gaborone, Botswana, for Saturday’s first leg before hosting the return fixture at Orlando Stadium next Friday, with a place in the group stages firmly in their sights.

The Buccaneers will be eager to avoid a repeat of last season’s disappointment, having suffered elimination at the same stage against DR Congo outfit St Eloi Lupopo. Ouaddou admits that last season’s early exit serves as a valuable lesson, with Pirates determined to go further in Africa’s premier club competition this campaign.

“It will be important to come back with a positive result because really it’s a big challenge for us. This year we need to be in the group stages. Last season, unfortunately, we were knocked out by Lupopo,” Ouaddou said.

Abdeslam Ouaddou
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, Image: Orlando Pirates

“It’s a big, big target this season. We took a lesson from last season, it will be important to come back with a very good result, so when we return home, we have an opportunity to qualify for the second game.

“It’s difficult [to study them], they didn’t start the league, but we have some footage. We already started to study the team, we have some information, and we have to go a little bit deeper in the next days,” he added.

Mofokeng plays 90 vs Real Sociedad!

Relebohile Mofokeng put on a lively performance as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise rescued a point against Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

Mofokeng started in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Lueven in the Belgian Pro League and kept his spot in the side to face the La Liga outfit.

Union came into the clash against a Sociedad outfit, who started their Europa League campaign with a loss to AFC Bournemouth before the FIFA break.

Lungu gets his prize!

Gamphani Lungu’s dramatic winner against Durban City has been voted Suzuki Goal of the Month for August and September.

The accolade underlines a fine start to life as a Buccaneer for the new recruit, who was also named the club’s first Player of the Month for the new season.

The stunning strike by the Zambian international decided a tightly-poised MTN8 quarter-final in front of a full house at Orlando Amstel Arena. With the contest looking destined for a penalty shootout, the home side were awarded a free kick in the final minute of extra time when Lungu produced a fine volley from the edge of the box to leave City goalkeeper Fredrick Asare rooted to the spot.

Ghampani Lungu
Ghampani Lungu of Orlando Pirates celebrating a goal

The goal sent the Bucs faithful into ruptures, sealing a dramatic 2-1 win which sent the Soweto Giants into the semifinals. It was the clear favourite in the list of 10 nominated goals, claiming 40% of the vote with Yanela Mbuthuma’s audacious chip against Kruger United the closest with 22%.

Just glimpses of brilliance

A firm declaration has been made that Orlando Pirates midfielder Simphiwe ‘Vempi’ Masilela has the potential of breaking into the Bafana Bafana squad as soon as this season.

Masilela has only been in the first team since the beginning of the season after being promoted from the DStv Diski Challenge but is already making noise with his performances. The 22-year-old has been in all the 14 match-day squads and has had minutes in all but three.

“All that has been seen of him at Pirates are only glimpses of what he can do. We know him well because we introduced him to the provincial football structures here in Mpumalanga while he was in Grade 12 after he played in the regional leagues,” says Mbuso Magubane, the chairman of his former ABC Motsepe League club Fernie Battalions FC. 

“Our task was to give him the platform that his talent deserved after having scouted him along four other boys. With us, we were all in agreement that we will not keep the boy for long when he joined us, and no surprise it has happened that way.

“The beauty is that he also left with our blessings after he asked for his clearance. While with us, we registered him as an Under-23 because the rules state that we play with five Under-23 players, but then we never regarded him as an Under as he played from start to finish all the time, created and scored goals.

“What he is doing now at Pirates is only a glimpse of what he can do. The boy is a marvel to watch. What I also like is that the boy is from a good family and so respects and is well disciplined. With the opportunities he is getting, I expect him to be in the Bafana squad soon, maybe before the end of this season.

Kabelo Kgosietsile, Simphiwe Masilela and Tshepang Moremi of Orlando Pirates celebrate a goal.
Kabelo Kgosietsile, Simphiwe Masilela and Tshepang Moremi of Orlando Pirates celebrate a goal. Image: Orlando Pirates

“I know we have Relebohile Mofokeng in the national team, but in Vempi we also have another equally capable option coming up. “His rise to the Pirates first team is one of the reasons why I’m now running the team on a lower budget because it is all younger boys coming to the team.

“Before, I would spend up to R100 000 a month since I had senior players coming from the higher leagues, but the younger boys that I have now don’t have high stipend demands,” Magubane concluded.

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Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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