Orlando Pirates News Today: Bucs rivals get stern warning, transfer updates & more

Latest Orlando Pirates news, in the last 24 hours, including Kruger United promising to turn things around after another defeat, Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma lauded as rivals get a warning from Bucs star, and more.

Coach promises to turn things around after another loss

Kruger United head coach Abram Mongoya has promised to turn things around after a slow start to life in the Betway Premiership.

The newly-promoted side suffered a 4-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, making it five games without a victory this campaign. To makes matters worse, Kruger have only scored two goals in their opening five encounters, signalling a real problem going forward.

➡️ Mongoya: 'I can promise game number eight, ten, we will turn around things'

Kruger United head coach Abram Mongoya has promised to turn things around after a slow start to life in the Betway Premiership.

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— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) September 1, 2026

Mongonya believes the side will be much better after eight to ten games in the top-flight.

“Yes, I think the boys must trust the process; the technical staff must never doubt. Hopefully, the management will also stick to what we’re trying to do because there’s progress from our game one to where we are now.

“I think the second round (of the season) is going to be very difficult to beat Kruger,” Mongoya told SuperSport after the game.

“I think very, very much I can promise game number eight, ten we will turn things around because we just need one victory. For me you look at the numbers at halftime you above 60-something percent with the ball possession, you’ve got more than four chances created versus a team like that, and they get only two chances.

“For me, it’s the unfortunate part where we need to learn in this league: you need to be very decisive with the little chances that you get.”

Radiopane and Mbuthuma lauded after decent outing

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his delight with Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma after both strikers found the back of the net against Kruger United.

The Buccaneers extended their unbeaten run in the Betway Premiership by scoring four unanswered goals against the top-flight outfit at Mbombela Stadium.

You know, there are some games where, strangely you have a lot, a lot of opportunities, a lot of chances to score and you don’t score,” Ouaddou told SuperSport after the game,

“It’s a game that we didn’t have a lot of chances, but we were very efficient, and I’m very happy for these boys; you know, it will give them trust and confidence.

“I’m really happy about the goals from them.”

The Buccaneers coach admits his side were not at their best in the first half, but hailed the response in the second period.

“You know, sometimes we didn’t play like we wanted, but at least we came away with the result we wanted. I think in the first half the boys didn’t start the game exactly like we wanted. I think we were dominated in the physical area; we didn’t manage to get any answer in that area. They were more aggressive than us,” Ouaddou said.

“They came to press us; we knew that they were coming to press. I said to the guys, maybe in the first 15 minutes to escape this pressure, it can be interesting to look for the second zone behind the back-four because they’re leaving space, things that we never did in the first half, to be honest.

“We came back slightly better, slightly better, but we didn’t manage to really impose the game we want. Credit has to be given to Kruger Football Club, so for us, the most important thing, let’s say it’s these three points; we came here knowing it won’t be easy. 

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“I don’t think many teams are going to be able to score four goals here because they were very aggressive, so let’s be happy, let’s correct, let’s correct the things we have to collect, but it’s not easy because when you give time to everybody, you try to rotate as well, so let’s be happy,” he added.

Pirates star issues huge warning to rivals

Orlando Pirates defender Sbangani Zulu has issued a warning to rival teams after yet another big win in the Betway Premiership.

The Buccaneers romped to an emphatic 4-0 thrashing of rookies Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night to steer three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.

"When we play with confidence, you won't do anything to us. We don't fear anyone [that we come up against]."

Orlando Pirates defender Sbangani Zulu has issued a warning to rival teams after yet another big win in the Betway Premiership.https://t.co/62E9W5ewsz pic.twitter.com/N9eCBgYRqN

— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) September 1, 2026

In-form Zambian striker Gamphani Lungu had opened the scoring just four minutes in from a spot kick before Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma’s double sealed maximum points for Abdeslam Ouaddou’s troops.

The Betway Premiership will now go into recess with CAF Champions League football on the horizon for the Buccaneers.

Zulu, 22, who joined the Soweto giants at the beginning of the current campaign from Richards Bay was quick to fire a warning shot to other teams after their big win.

“When we play with confidence, you won’t do anything to us,” he said on SuperSport TV after walking away with the Man of the Match award.

“We don’t fear anyone [that we come up against].”