Pirates have made some key squad additions, but could reportedly bid farewell to a midfielder who is battling for game-time.
There is no doubt that Orlando Pirates were the big winners from this past transfer window, with the Buccaneers moving and shaking in the recruitment market as they snapped up three highly-regarded players.
At the start of the new season, Pirates are viewed by many as the only club looking likely to potentially challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the title this season, and the Bucs certainly made some key power plays to further bolster their squad even further as they signed Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Kermit Erasmus and Sipho Chaine.
However, according to the Phakaaathi, midfielder Ntsako Makhubela could be considering a loan move back to his old club Golden Arrows as a result of limited game-time and a sense that he won’t be returning to the first-team setup any time soon.
“His morale is way too low, things are just not going well for him at Pirates. This is not something that he anticipated because he thought he was going to be one of the key players in the squad. But now everything is just falling apart for him and it doesn’t seem there will be any changes for him that is why he now wants to go back to Arrows,” said the Phakaaathi source.
As the last transfer deadline drew towards a close, Pirates officially announced the signing of talented Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo. The 27-year-old joins the Buccaneers on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Marumo Gallants.
The day after that news, Pirates confirmed the recruitment of Kermit Erasmus on a two-year deal. Romeo, as he is affectionately known, returns to the club having left to join French outfit Stade Rennais back in 2016.
The experienced forward joins the Buccaneers having recently been cleared by his former employer and becomes the sixth senior signing of the season.
It also shouldn’t be overlooked that in the statement related to Erasmus, Pirates also confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Sipho Chaine. The 25-year-old signs from Chippa United on a three-year deal.
Orlando Pirates did brilliantly in the previous transfer window, and they were clearly not afraid to splash the cash to get their targets for the season.
The other major signings include Tapelo Xoki, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Miguel Timm.
COMMENTS