Pirates Sign Seven New Players

Orlando Pirates has officially confirmed seven new player signings, putting an end to weeks of speculation and countless headlines across football social media.

The new additions are Yanela Mbuthuma (from Richards Bay), Masindi Nemtajela (Marumo Gallants), Tshepang Moremi (AmaZulu), Nkosikhona Ndaba (Richards Bay), Sinoxolo Kwayiba (Chippa United), Tshepo Mashiloane (Baroka), and Sihle Nduli (Stellenbosch).

These players add to Sipho Mbule, who was signed two days ago from Mamelodi Sundowns, and new coach Abdelsam Ouddou, who was appointed on Monday.   

Pre-season Kicks Off

Today marks the first step of the 2025/2026 season for both current and new players as they undergo their initial pre-season screenings. The new crop of players will join their teammates later this morning for Day 1 of pre-season, which will include a series of medical and physical assessments. This is an essential step to ensure every player is equipped for the rigors of the campaign ahead. Club doctors and performance staff will meticulously guide the players through baseline tests and evaluations, vital not only for fitness tracking but also for tailoring individual training plans.

Integration and Induction

Following the tests, the new players will go through an induction process that all new Pirates signings undertake. Transitioning to a club of Orlando Pirates’ stature goes beyond the pitch. The new signings will have the opportunity to interact with club legends like Edward Motale, Lucky Lekgwathi, and Happy Jele. This will be coupled with a series of visits, including a trip to Soweto to see Orlando Stadium, the “Mecca” of South African Football, which they’ll be calling home for the 2025/26 season.

While the next two days will focus on integration and assessments, the real work begins next week when the head coach and his technical staff take the reins for the formal start of the football side of pre-season.

These players are set to travel to Spain for a pre-season camp where they’ll compete against four different teams.