Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘You’ll never find striker like him! Star out, discussion with Dr. Khoza & more…

Published on by

Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘You’ll never find striker like him! Star out, discussion with Dr. Khoza & more…

Latest Orlando Pirates news, in the last 24 hours including why Nkosinathi Sibisi is out of Guinea clash, discussion between Mama Joy and Dr. Irvin Khoza, striker lauded by Kaizer Chiefs legend, and more.

Sibisi out of action

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has confirmed that Orlando Pirates defender Nkosinathi Sibisi has been ruled out for their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea.

After losing Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe to injury earlier this week, Bafana Bafana have been dealt a big blow with the news that Sibisi will also not be available after picking an injury. 

Bafana Bafana had their final training session at Orlando Stadium this afternoon before taking on the West Africans tomorrow in their opening Group D. They will have to do it without Sibisi, who has been a member of the national team for the last four to five years.

“Setback on Sibisi because he’s got an injury and he has not been training the last two days days. He got a knock at training, so we are monitoring it. The doctor says he will miss this one,” Mosimane told media.

Nkosinathi Sibisi, Orlando Pirates
Nkosinathi Sibisi, Orlando Pirates. Image: Orlando Pirates

“Injuries are part of professional sport, hence you select enough numbers because you don’t know what you will have or what you are going to face. Thanks God we selected enough. You know Lebo Maboe is also out, hence we select as much as we can so that we can go through the hurdles without panicking. That’s what we have. So far, so good. The camp is good.”

Mama Joy reveals discussion with Dr. Khoza

South Africa’s superfan Joy “MamaJoy” Chauke has explained in detail how her conversation with Orlando Pirates and Premier Soccer League chairman, Dr. Irvin Khoza, went recently.

South Africa’s prominent supporter Chauke, and Dr. Khoza were both present at the recently held at the SAFA elective congress held on 12 September 2026 in Midrand.

Chauke famously left the Sea Robbers on November 2021 to support the now defunct Royal AM.

“I thank Dr. Khoza for honouring me on that day; he just said to me, ‘Ha! She’s our number one fan!’ That felt so special. He was speaking to the journalists when I approached him to greet him. I was so surprised by the way he was so proud when he said to the journalists, ‘She’s our number 1 fan,'” she told KickOff.

“He was not saying I was Orlando Pirates’ number 1 fan. He was saying I’m number 1 fan of South Africa. When a chairman of the PSL refers to you as our number 1 fan, it means you have done something for the country.

Orlando Pirates chairman DrIrvin Khoza
Irvin Khoza, Orlando Pirates

“At first I thought he was going to ask me about leaving Pirates, but I always knew that ‘Baba’ holds no grudges against me for leaving Pirates.

“My response to him was, Hey, Baba, I miss you’. And he said, ‘Hey, we miss each other’. It was so emotional. I like the way he addressed me with respect. I felt honoured,” she added.

Khumalo lauds Mbuthuma

Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo has heaped praise on Orlando Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma for constantly troubling defenders.

Mbuthuma, 24, is one of the 11 forwards selected by Mosimane to face Guinea and Eritrea in the qualifiers and also the international friendly against Egypt next month. This is only his second time with the senior national team, his debut coming in June 2025.

The former Richards Bay man has recently found his scoring boots across three competitions the Betway Premiership, the MTN8 where his side reached the final and also the CAF Champions League.

However, he has endured torment from his club fan base when he was going through a goal drought, but Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou kept faith in him. Khumalo says if Mbuthuma’s job was easy anyone could do it.

“I would say to you, if it was easy all of us here in South Africa, we would be millionaires,” said Khumalo on The DNA Podcast.

“But unfortunately, you have to dig deep and go out and work for it, and that’s what this boy did. That’s all I can say. If it was easy, we’d all be millionaires. Have you ever seen this boy quarrelling or shouting or doing anything? He’s doing it quietly. Whether good or bad, he’s doing it quietly. He wakes up tomorrow and tries and fixes the mistake or try to make it better. That’s his secret.

Yanela Mbuthuma, Orlando Pirates
Yanela Mbuthuma, Orlando Pirates. Photo: Orlando Pirates

“I once said it that you will never find a striker like that who troubles defenders when they [his side] are out of possession. Look at how he harasses the opponents when they have the ball. And then let’s take the transition now in terms of his intelligence. Are you aware that in one game, he gave two assists. And then look at the assists he gave, and mind you, he’s a striker. That is a skill for defenders, but that game, those passes…Clearly, the boy slowly but surely is growing within the game.”

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

Willis Sob

Author

  • Football Odds
  • Sports Journalism
  • Football

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.

You May Also Like