Orlando Pirates are reportedly set to retain goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula while the futures of midfielders Miguel Timm and Phillip Ndlondlo are in doubt.
The four players will be out of contract in June 2025 but the Buccaneers are keen to sort out their futures early as they bid to build a competitive squad that can challenge on multiple fronts.
According to Soccer Laduma, Chaine and Makhaula, who are among key men for Jose Riveiro’s team, appear to be the two that will stay while Timm and Ndlondlo, who have become bit-part players this season, will likely leave the club next June.
“It is hard for the team to make decisions now. For Sipho and Makhehlene, it looks not that difficult. The main issue is with the others. You know Timm they gave him one year [extension] in July this year and it seems they are not ready to renew again,” a source told Soccer Laduma.
Who is staying and who is leaving Pirates?
“With Ndlondlo, the competition in his position together with Timm is what is making it difficult. Of course, they want to keep Chaine and Makhaula and both have been offered new contracts already though nothing has been finalised at the moment. That’s the headache the team is facing. They are sweating over who they should keep and who they should release and they are working on that one.”
The outlet further reports that the Pirates hierarchy is impressed with the central midfield partnership of Makhaula and Thalente Mbatha and that is why they are ready to let Timm and Ndlondlo leave.
Of the four, Chaine has been an ever-present figure in the Pirates’ starting XI, having played 18 games, with Makhaula managing 16 under his belt.
However, club captain Timm has seen limited game time this campaign, with just two substitute appearances in cup games, while Ndolondlo has played twice, managing 90 minutes once with 17 more coming as a substitute.
