Orlando Pirates are preparing for a dramatic squad revamp following the end of their Betway Premiership campaign, and several senior players may soon find themselves heading for the exit.
The Buccaneers wrapped up their season with a 1-1 draw against Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium, finishing second on the log and booking their place in next season’s CAF Champions League. But behind the scenes, changes are already in motion.
New era dawns at Pirates
Following the departure of head coach Jose Riveiro, Pirates are poised to usher in a new era under incoming leadership. A fresh tactical approach and vision are on the horizon, and that includes a significant overhaul of the playing squad.
Reports indicate the club will introduce exciting new talent. With Sinoxolo Kwayiba, Sihle Nduli, Masindi Nemtajela, Kabelo Kgositsile, Tshepo Mashiloane, and Nkosikhona Ndaba all tipped to join the team ahead of the 2025/2026 season.
No room for sentiment
With new faces arriving, some familiar ones are expected to depart. The club aims to free up space and resources to accommodate the new arrivals and align the squad with the new coach’s system.
A source confirmed the ruthless intent. “To do that, some players will have to be sacrificed.”
Several Pirates players facing the chop
While Pirates have not publicly named players on the way out, sources close to the club suggest up to seven squad members could be released or sold in the coming weeks. But players like Maela, Timm, Saleng, Lepasa, Lebitso, Tshobeni and Mosele are in danger of leaving.
These changes are not just about clearing space, they’re about building a team capable of challenging both domestically and on the continent.
Dethroning sundowns and conquering Africa
The Buccaneers are not merely aiming to participate in next season’s CAF Champions League. After reaching the semi-finals last time around, they now want to go all the way. To do that, the squad must be more competitive, more disciplined, and more dynamic.
“The Buccaneers are determined to build a competitive squad to unseat Mamelodi Sundowns as champions,” the source said.
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