Sibisi: From Fan To Orlando Pirates Captain
They say dreams come true, but for Nkosinathi Sibisi, captaining Orlando Pirates was a reality he never dared to imagine.
Sibisi was named the Buccaneers’ captain on Wednesday for the upcoming season, taking over from the retired Innocent Maela. His vice-captains will be Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Thapelo Xoki.
This honor comes just days after Sibisi was named the PSL Defender of the 2024/25 Season.
“It is a great privilege and honor for me to captain such a huge side in Orlando Pirates, a big institution,” Sibisi reacted.
“As a young boy, I grew up supporting the club, and never in my wildest dreams did I think one day I would be able to captain the club, let alone play for the team. So, for me, it is an honor and a privilege.”
The captaincy isn’t new territory for Sibisi; he previously led Golden Arrows before joining Pirates. He also notably captained Bafana Bafana in June’s friendly games when regular captain Ronwen Williams was away for the FIFA Club World Cup with Mamelodi Sundowns, a testament to national team coach Hugo Broos’s faith in him.
Since joining the Buccaneers from Arrows ahead of the 2022/23 season, Sibisi has been a rock in defense, making 102 appearances, scoring three goals, and providing two assists. He’s been instrumental in five trophy-winning campaigns, including three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups.
While Sibisi’s captaincy was expected, the appointment of Mbokazi as a vice-captain came as a surprise to many, especially since he only made his Pirates debut in March last season.
However, like Sibisi, Mbokazi received end-of-season accolades, claiming the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament award despite Pirates’ loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the final.
Sibisi spoke highly of the KZN-native’s meteoric rise to stardom, noting Mbokazi’s leadership during the pre-season camp in Spain where he also captained Pirates.
“He’s such a brave boy; I don’t think he fears anything,” said Sibisi.
“For the first time when he came and joined us, you could see how confident he was in his ability. For him to get such recognition at such an early age from the club, to give him such a responsibility, I think it speaks volumes of where the club wants to go. Not only looking at the now, but also looking for the future. We are going to see the best of him again this season.”
Pirates will kick off their 2025/26 season with an MTN8 quarter-final clash against Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday at 3:00 PM.
