The Bucs stars are among five who will be spotting different digits on their jerseys
Orlando Pirates stars Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi will be spotting new numbers on their shirts this weekend when the Buccaneers begin their CAF Champions League campaign.
The two are among five Pirates players who have been assigned new numbers for the Champions League campaign in a bid to comply with Confederation of African Football (CAF) rules.
Mofokeng, who usually dons the no.38 shirt, will be spotting No.3 in the Champions League while Maswanganyi will have the No.10 shirt and not the usual 28.
Other players assigned new numbers are goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi, who will spot No.1 in continental matches and not 35, midfielder Sephelo Baloni, with No.22 from No.3, while Thabiso Sesane will wear No.28 from No.36.
Will the new numbers inspire Pirates stars to CAF success?
“The rules according to the Confederation of African Football, for all continental tournaments allows for a maximum of 40 registered players, all sporting the numbers 1-40, and without names on the jerseys,” Pirates said in a statement on their website clarifying the changes.
“With this in mind, the previously unused Orlando Pirates jersey numbers 10, 13 and 22 will once again make an on-field return in this season’s instalment of Africa’s premier club competition.
“In the past, the number 10 jersey was worn by Vincent Pule. But since Mashonisa’s departure, the famous number 10 jersey has been vacated and will now have a new owner.
“Other jersey number changes will include the players who are usually numbered higher than 40 in the season roster, and these players will don the numbers currently vacated by the unregistered squad players for this phase of the competition.”
The Bucs begin their continental assignment in Madagascar
Some of the jersey numbers were spotted by players who have since left the club with Pirates parting ways with Kermit Erasmus, Thabang Monare, Richard Ofori, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Fortune Makaringe, Souaibou Marou, Vincent Pule and Bongani Sam.
The club did not, however, clarify if the changes will be permanent or only for the Champions League given some supporters would have already purchased new jerseys for the 2024-25 season.
Pirates will face CNaPS Sport from Madagascar in the first leg of the first preliminary round of the Champions League in Antananarivo on Sunday with the return match to be played at the Orlando Stadium a week later.
