Pirates Make Surprise Signing
In a surprising move, Orlando Pirates have confirmed the signing of midfielder Sipho Mbule, who was recently released by Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mbule was let go by Sundowns at the end of last season after a loan spell at Sekhukhune United. His time at Sekhukhune was brief; he played in 17 matches, scoring two goals and providing three assists before his loan was cut short due to widely reported off-field issues.
Upon his return to Sundowns, the club opted not to renew his contract, even leaving him out of their FIFA Club World Cup squad. This decision paved the way for his unexpected move to Orlando Pirates. Given his publicized off-field challenges, it’s certainly an intriguing signing for the Buccaneers.
Mbule, who joined Sundowns from SuperSport United at the start of the 2022/23 season, enjoyed success during his time there, winning two league titles and the African Football League. However, his personal statistics at Sundowns were more modest, with just three goals and one assist in 51 appearances.
Mbule is expected to join the Pirates squad in Spain for their pre-season training camp under the new coach, Abdelsam Ouaddou, who was appointed on Monday.
