Orlando Pirates News Today: Sesane’s farewell message after shocking exit, transfer updates & more

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Orlando Pirates News Today: Sesane’s farewell message after shocking exit, transfer updates & more
Photo - AF ZA

Orlando Pirates news in the last 24 hours, including advice to Sipho Mbule after the move, Thabiso Sesane shares a message to Bucs following exit, Buccaneers emulating Pep Guardiola and more.

Mbule advised on how to deliver abroad

Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi says he is happy to see midfielder Sipho Mbule move abroad, and hopes he can revive his career at Zakho SC.

Mbule, 28, joined Iraqi top division side Zakho SC after parting ways with Pirates last month. The “Master Chef” had signed a year deal with the Buccaneers but the club did not activate the extension clause when his contract ended in June making him a free agent.

“Sometimes the environment you are in contributes because you can get stuck in a comfort zone,” Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.

“I think he was in a comfort zone and for me I think this is a great opportunity for him to go to countries like Iraq where he can be able to revive himself and maybe even what people are saying about him and discipline. Maybe he’s going to change because of the environment.

“That environment will be different from home where you find one having too many friends. So going that side he must start a new life, new friends, and the friends could be Muslim as well, different from the friends he’s used to being around that maybe have an influence on his discipline.

“I’m happy he is going to a different country and let’s pray or wish that he’s going to focus especially with his age. He needs to focus because if you have noticed nowadays in football people retire at a young age. He’s 28/29 and there are a few years left for him to play.

Sipho Mbule sogned for Iraqi side Zakho SC.
Sipho Mbule sogned for Iraqi side Zakho SC. Photo: Zakho SC

“There’s a lucky few like [Christiano] Ronaldo and Lucky Lekgwathi that retire at the age of 39, 40. It’s not easy these days to find players retiring at 40. He must just try to focus, revive himself and do well and maybe he can come back to Bafana Bafana. He’s a good player, he’s so talented, he’s gifted, a special player.

“But unfortunately, people always complain about his discipline, let’s hope he’ll go there and change in a new environment.”

Sesane to fans: This is not farewell

Talented defender Thabiso Sesane has bid an emotional farewell to Orlando Pirates, bringing the curtain down on a nine-year marriage with the club.

Pirates emulating Guardiola?

Orlando Pirates have released 12 players while bringing in just seven ahead of the 2026/27 season, raising questions about whether the Buccaneers are adopting a Manchester City-style approach that prioritises a trusted core over squad depth, according to Soccer Laduma.

The net reduction of five players suggests Pirates are backing their existing core to handle multiple competitions simultaneously. It is clear the Buccaneers are far from done in the transfer window, and more faces are likely to walk through the doors at Parktown.

One has to wonder whether there is a bigger picture at play regarding squad depth ahead of the 2026/27 season.

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

Guardiola’s City demonstrated that success breeds trust in a smaller group. Whether Pirates’ streamlined approach delivers similar results across domestic and continental competitions will define Abdeslam Ouaddou’s next chapter.

<!-- 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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