Bhakaniya

Ncikazi: Maswanganyi Is Emotional, But No Major Issues with Ouaddou Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has admitted that midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi is an emotional person, but insists there are no major problems between him and head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Ncikazi made these remarks in Part 1 of the BucsCamp episode aired on Pirates TV, which showed the halftime altercation between the player and the coach. The episode was filmed during the halftime break of a Betway Premiership match against Marumo Gallants in February. Maswanganyi, known as Tito, had scored one of the team's two first-half goals but missed a chance to add a third—something the Moroccan coach interpreted as complacency. Footage showed Ouaddou being held back as he appeared to move toward Maswanganyi during the confrontation. In the same episode, Ncikazi revealed that he himself has had explosive moments with Tito and is still learning how to manage him. He also raised the importance of understandin...

Orlando Pirates Confirm Sipho Mbule’s Departure Following Contract Expiry Orlando Pirates have officially confirmed the exit of midfielder Sipho Mbule after his contract with the club came to an end. Mbule joined the Buccaneers following his departure from Sekhukhune United. During his time with Pirates, he was part of the squad that secured the club’s first Betway Premiership title in 14 years, along with the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout Cup. The 28-year-old made 23 appearances in his only season with Pirates, featuring mostly in the first half of the campaign, during which he also earned a recall to the Bafana Bafana squad. However, his form and playing time declined in the second half of the season, leading to the club announcing his exit on Tuesday. “Orlando Pirates Football Club bids farewell to Sipho Mbule, following the conclusion of his time with the Club. While his stay with the Buccaneers has lasted only one season, what a season it was,” the club stated. “Affectionately kno...

Deon Hotto Shows Sympathy for Tito Maswanganyi After Dressing Room Clash with Coach Ouaddou Orlando Pirates utility player Deon Hotto has expressed sympathy for teammate Patrick Maswanganyi following the midfielder’s heated dressing room exchange with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. The incident took place during Pirates’ 3–0 league victory over Marumo Gallants in February at the Orlando Amstel Arena. Footage of the explosive confrontation was later made public by the club in Part 1 of the BucsCamp episode, which aired on SuperSport and the Pirates TV YouTube channel on Sunday. The 2025/26 Betway Premiership champions were leading Ouaddou’s former side 2–0 at halftime. Maswanganyi, known as Tito, was one of the goal scorers but had also missed a chance to add a third before the break. In the episode, Hotto was seen among those holding Ouaddou back as the coach appeared to move toward Maswanganyi during the heated verbal exchange. According to Hotto, while he understood the coach’s perspec...

Orlando Pirates Unveil First Four New Signings for 2026/27 Season Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates have officially announced their first four signings ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The club’s move to secure new talent early mirrors their approach from the previous season, following a historic domestic treble that included ending a 14-year league title drought. One of the most notable arrivals is Mthetheleli Mthiyane, a highly regarded box-to-box midfielder from Stellenbosch FC. His move sees Thabiso Lebitso head in the opposite direction as part of the deal. Zambian international forward Ghampani Lungu has also joined the ranks. Lungu has been active in the Premier Soccer League since 2018, when SuperSport United brought him to South Africa from Power Dynamos. He is expected to add pace and versatility to Pirates’ attacking options. Lungu arrives from Siwelele with a solid record of 29 goals and 15 assists in 212 appearances across all PSL competitions. Promising winger Bo...

Orlando Pirates Confirm Five Player Exits as Squad Overhaul Continues Orlando Pirates have officially announced the departure of five players as part of their ongoing squad restructuring ahead of the upcoming season. The Buccaneers recently unveiled four new signings—Sbangani Zulu, Ghampani Lungu, Mthetheleli Mthiyane, and Bohale Ngwato—as they look to strengthen their roster. Following those announcements, the club confirmed that Bandile Shandu, Sipho Mbule, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Karim Kimvuidi, and Deivi Miguel Vieira (known as Gilberto) have all parted ways with the team. Kimvuidi and Gilberto spent the entirety of last season out on loan, while Mabasa secured a temporary move away in January during the midseason window. Shandu and Mbule, on the other hand, were part of the squad that famously clinched a treble in the previous campaign. In a statement on their official website, the club said: “Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm the departure of five players following the conclu...

Tshegofatso Mabasa Shares Emotional Farewell After Nearly a Decade with Orlando Pirates Former Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has issued a heartfelt statement following his departure from the club after close to ten years. On Tuesday, the Buccaneers confirmed that they would not be extending the contracts of at least five players, with Mabasa among those released. Known as “Sniper,” Mabasa scored an impressive 50 goals in 141 appearances for Ezimnyama Ngenkani since joining from the now-defunct Bloemfontein Celtic. His goal tally places him as the club’s second-highest all-time scorer, trailing only Benedict Vilakazi. Mabasa is now a free agent. He spent the final six months of his Pirates career on loan at Stellenbosch FC, where he found the net five times in 17 matches. In a post on Instagram, Mabasa wrote: “Eight years ago, a young man walked through the doors of Rand Stadium with nothing but a dream and a hunger to succeed. Today, I leave this great institution with imm...