Having already said goodbye to two players, Orlando Pirates appear headed for a significant player exodus this transfer window. Here's a closer look at seven more players who could be leaving the club.
The Sea Robbers coach Jose Riveiro is one of few coaches blessed with immense quality in the squad. This season, Pirates mirrored last campaign's success by claiming only the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup trophies.
Looking to build on their success, the Spanish coach aims to challenge for the league title and improve in the Champions League next season.
Two first Orlando Pirates departures
The club has started reconstructing the team for Riveiro for the upcoming campaign. While there hasn’t been any arrival, the Soweto giants have parted ways with the striker Souaibou Marou and the midfielder Fortune Makaringe.
The Cameroonian forward, Marou has only been with the Buccaneers for a season, featuring in only four matches across all competitions in the Black and White shirt.
Marou, the Cameroonian forward, only spent one season with the Buccaneers, managing just four appearances across all competitions. Makaringe's struggles for playing time culminated in his departure after a four-year stint with the club, following his arrival from Maritzburg United in 2019. This season, he featured in only 14 matches, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
Seven more players linked with exit door at Pirates
These are other names linked with exit at Pirates after their struggles with game time:
- Richard Ofori
Signed from Maritzburg United in 2020, Ofori has been plagued by injuries. The Ghana's number-one goalkeeper was stripped of the number one position by Sipho Chaine who was signed from Chippa United.
Following Melusi Buthelezi’s signing this season, he fell further down the pecking order. His contract is expiring this month and his future is hanging by a thread.
- Siyabonga Mpontshane
Mpontshane is one of the long-serving members of Ezimnyama Ngenkani having been with the club since 2015, signing from the now-defunct Platinum Stars.
The 38-year-old is also one of the oldest players in the Premier Soccer League [PSL] with the likes of Vuyo Mere, 40 [TS Galaxy] and Dennis Onyango, 39 [Mamelodi Sundowns] who are still going strong.
His contract comes to an end at the of June.
- Thabang Monare
Monare was close to leaving the Buccaneers at the end of the previous season when his deal came to an end. However, he signed a one-year extension which expires this month.
He hasn’t been playing much this season, particularly in the second round of the season with Riveiro preferring Makhehlene Makhaula and Thalente Mbatha.
- Katlego Otladisa
Otladisa was one of the promising players when he inked a deal with the Buccaneers from Marumo Gallants at the beginning of the season.
However, he has struggled to establish himself Esigodini, making 12 appearances in all competitions.
- Kermit Erasmus
The 33-year-old striker had a season to forget as he couldn’t feature as much as he had been in the previous years. Erasmus played only 11 games and rattled in only one goal in the process.
He’ll be out of contract this month and indications are that he’ll be departing.
- Zakhele Lepasa
Lepasa lost his regular starting berth and hasn’t been starting games just like in the previous season when he was loaned out to SuperSport United.
Despite a promising start this season, including being part of the AFCON Bafana Bafana squad, his playing time dwindled in the second half. He made 23 appearances overall.
- Bandile Shandu
Injuries have hampered the versatile Shandu's season. He’s another player linked with exit with Chippa United poised as the next destination for the former Maritzburg United man.
