Orlando Pirates News Today: Latest on international keeper, transfer updates & more

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Orlando Pirates News Today: Latest on international keeper, transfer updates & more

Latest Orlando Pirates news, in the last 24 hours, including why Bucs legend supports Pitso Mosimane at Bafana Bafana, latest on Brian Bwire’s anticipated move to the club, and more.

Bucs legend lauds Mosimane at Bafana

Former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana defender Lucky Lekgwathi says bringing in Pitso Mosimane will benefit the current crop of players just as it did for him when he earned his first call-up under a local coach.

SAFA’s executive committee endorsed the appointment of Mosimane as a replacement for Hugo Broos, and an announcement is expected to be made in the near future as Bafana Bafana prepare to take on the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over the next few months.

When Lekgwathi received his first national team call-up, Shakes Mashaba was the coach, and it was perfect for him. By working alongside a local coach, Lekgwathi feels he had more freedom to express himself on the pitch, and he has a feeling that this will work in favour of the current generation with Mosimane at the helm.

“It’s good to have a local coach. I remember my first cap; Shakes Mashaba was the coach. You know, local coaches like to give you freedom to express yourself, compared to European coaches, where sometimes you are scared. You don’t want to express yourself, but with local coaches, they always give you freedom,” he said as quoted by Soccer Laduma.

“You look at players like Rele (Mofokeng). People say he didn’t play, but I think the other reason was that the coach was from Europe. If he can get a local coach, he will show his talent. It was the same with me. I showed my talent because the coach was local.

“It’s easy to communicate with a local coach. Even when I was at Pirates, having a European or a local coach, mostly you would go to the local coach to say, ‘we want to change the pattern and the system,’ and he would allow you. But for you to go ask a European coach, you would be scared, even as a captain. But it’s easy to ask a local coach. I think he deserves a chance. He needs our support.”

Keeper back after failed move to Bucs

Orlando Pirates showed interest in the keeper however, they also backtracked at the eleventh hour under mysterious circumstances.

The Kenyan was at Polokwane City for the past two seasons, but his stay came to a sour ending after turning down the extension option. 

This then led to him not playing since January, which was a streak of 15 games. He was on the bench against Siwelele FC on Valentine’s Day and since then wasn’t in the match-day squad, paving way for Lindokuhle Mathebula to take over.

After having been the regular until the end of January, Bwire’s minutes then only came for the Harambee Stars under Benni McCarthy in March and June. The matter at hand at Polokwane was the extension that he declined to sign, leading to the beginning of his troubles.

Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates
Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates – Image:: Pirates

This contractual issue took a legal route, which involved the PSL boardroom. The 26-year-old won the dispute and was handed his clearance, leading to his departure.

Chippa United tabled an offer before choosing to withdraw, after which Orlando Pirates stood up interested. However, they also backtracked at the eleventh hour under mysterious circumstances as well.

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

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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