Pirates Go Joint-Top As Subs Sink Chippa Amidst Mbokazi MLS Transfer Buzz
Orlando Pirates went joint-top on points with Mamelodi Sundowns after beating Chippa United 2–0 in the Betway Premiership at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday — a match they played without star defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who is currently in the United States.
The Soweto giants sealed the victory through second-half goals from substitutes Evidence Makgopa and Oswin Appollis after dominating the contest. Pirates are now level with Sundowns on 25 points from 11 matches and still have a game in hand.
With no CAF commitments this season — unlike Sundowns — Pirates have a major opportunity to challenge seriously for the league title for the first time since the 2011/12 campaign.
The big news before kickoff was the absence of Mbokazi, who is set to join MLS side Chicago Fire. According to respected journalist and commentator Mark Gleeson, Chicago Fire are prepared to pay a transfer fee of around US$3 million (approximately R52.14 million) should negotiations be finalised.
In Mbokazi’s absence, Pirates were boosted by the return of Nigerian international Olisa Ndah, who had been out for more than a year with a tibia and fibula fracture, according to Transfermarkt.
Interestingly, Mbokazi made his PSL debut against the same Chippa United side in March last season. On that day, Nkosinathi Sibisi — who replaced him on Tuesday and partnered Lebone Seema at centre-back — scored at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Mbokazi picked up a third-minute booking in that match but never looked back, eventually attracting interest from the United States.
Pirates also welcomed back PSL Midfielder of the Season Makhehlene Makhaula, who returned from injury and took a place on the bench.
Chippa, bottom of the Betway Premiership and now under their fifth coach of the season in Vusi Vilakazi, were desperate for points. They remained tight and compact, with Tshepang Moremi involved frequently down the right-hand side and recording 11 final-third entries, but Pirates struggled to break them down in the first half.
Yanela Mbuthuma — who scored a brace when Pirates beat Golden Arrows early this month — came close again after combining well with Sipho Mbule, but goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi produced an important save.
Coach Abdelsam Ouaddou responded by making a triple substitution in the 61st minute, introducing Makhaula, Makgopa, and Appollis to add attacking impetus.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 74th minute when Relebohile Mofokeng unlocked Chippa’s deep defensive line with a brilliant pass before Deon Hotto squared for Makgopa to finish.
Chippa almost equalised through Asanele Bonani, who turned sharply inside the box, but Sipho Chaine — largely untested — stuck out a foot to make a crucial save.
That was Chippa’s best opportunity to level the match.
Appollis then sealed the win in stoppage time, lifting the ball over Msibi for Pirates’ second — much like Makgopa, scoring after coming off the bench — as the Buccaneers collected all three points to move joint-top with Sundowns.
