Orlando Pirates News Today: Appollis’ transfer saga, Matuludi deal imminent & more

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including the lingering financial dispute surrounding Oswin Appollis, fresh details on the Thabang Matuludi pursuit, and Stellenbosch FC’s pointed response to reports that Bucs target Faiz Abrahams has gone missing from training.

Appollis’ transfer carries unresolved financial baggage

Oswin Appollis may not have returned to South Africa with the rest of the Bafana Bafana squad following their World Cup exit, intensifying speculation that an overseas deal is imminent, but his transfer saga carries a complicated financial subplot that has yet to be resolved.

Pretoria Callies chairman Moses Malada has gone public with his frustration, revealing that Polokwane City have still not honoured a sell-on clause agreed when Appollis originally left the lower-league side.

“What hurts us is that there are still unsettled contractual agreements with Polokwane City,” Malada told KickOff, adding that Callies had discovered Appollis when he had effectively given up on football.

Appollis went to Polokwane City for R900,000 before being sold for more than ten times that figure when he moved to Pirates. Should Pirates now reach a transfer agreement in this window following reported European and North American interest, they stand to receive at least triple what they originally paid.

Matuludi set for Pirates talks after World Cup

Bafana Bafana right-back Thabang Matuludi will have transfer-related engagements to deal with immediately after his arrival back in South Africa, with a move away from Polokwane City firmly on the agenda.

The 27-year-old did not feature in any of the four matches played by Bafana as they reached the last-32, but that lack of game time will do nothing to slow the momentum behind his anticipated move.

Polokwane will still earn around USD170,000 (approximately R2.78 million) for Matuludi’s World Cup squad selection, even without him playing a single minute, along with a further sum for the two qualifiers in which he was named in the match-day squad against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

For the transfer itself, figures of upwards of R8 million have been discussed, and Matuludi’s personal terms would be vastly improved on what he currently earns in the Limpopo capital.

Stellies break silence on Pirates-linked star’s absence

Stellenbosch FC have issued a firm but brief statement after reports emerged that highly-rated winger Faiz Abrahams had not been seen near the club’s training ground, with the speculation linked to reported interest from Orlando Pirates.

“Faiz Abrahams remains contracted to Stellenbosch FC. The Club will not comment further on transfer speculation and internal matters as our focus remains on our pre-season preparations,” said Liam Bekker, the club’s Head of Media and Stakeholder Relations.

The 21-year-old played a central role in Stellenbosch winning the 2024/25 DStv Diski Challenge and was subsequently selected for the national under-20 squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in May last year.