Orlando Pirates News Today: Ouaddou names ‘future of South Africa’, Bucs on international duty & transfers

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including the player Abdeslam Ouaddou feels will lift South African football and the many Buccaneers on international duty.

Ouaddou identifies the future of South Africa

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has termed defender Lebone Seema as the future of South Africa after he made it into the final Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Seema has been impressive since joining Pirates from TS Galaxy ahead of last season, forming a formidable partnership with Nkosinathi Sibisi especially since the departure of Mbekezeli Mbokazi to the MLS.

The 23-year-old has continued from where he left in 2025-26 this season with commanding performances at the heart of defence and he has already scored three goals this term, making it impossible for new Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane to overlook him.

“First of all, I really congratulate him and all the other members of the team who have been called to the national team. I thank as well Pitso to call him,” said Ouaddou as quoted by iDiski Times.

“It means that he was following his work since last season. He’s the future, he’s the future of South Africa.

“We have such talent in that position in South Africa. I hope this call will give him confidence to continue to work, to grow. But I’m not surprised he’s somebody that has the good mentality, who’s professional and coachable.

“It’s very important for me because in order to improve, you need to be coachable, and you need to be able to understand and to listen. You know, he just started to know me now. Sometimes I can be hard with him and last season I was really, really, really hard with him.”

Strong Pirates contingent on international duty

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates will have a strong presence on the international stage during the upcoming FIFA break, with eight players selected to represent three different national teams.

New signing Gamphani Lungu has been rewarded for his excellent form with a recall to the Zambian national team for the first time in over two years. The 27-year-old, who has 15 caps for Chipolopolo, will look to add to his tally as Zambia kicks off its AFCON qualifying campaign against Algeria and Togo.

The largest group of Pirates players will represent South Africa. Among them are two potential debutants: defender Lebone Seema and striker Yanela Mbuthuma.

They join club captain Nkosinathi Sibisi, goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, Kamogelo Sebelebele, and Oswin Appollis in the national setup. South Africa is set to face Guinea in an AFCON qualifier before traveling to play Eritrea in their Group D fixture.

Veteran fullback Deon Hotto has also been named in Namibia coach Collin Benjamin’s 29-man provisional squad. The Brave Warriors are preparing for AFCON qualifiers against Congo-Brazzaville and Comoros, followed by a friendly match away to Russia.