Orlando Pirates news: New captain, Saleng, Appollis, Human
Orlando Pirates had the quadruple in their sights last season only to walk away with one trophy.
Redemption will be on their mind all offseason, which isn't always a bad thing. Not only will it motivate management to invest heavily in the winter window, but it also shows signs of their growing belief that they have what it takes to dismantle Mamelodi Sundowns' thrown.
The Tshwane giants have won the past eight league trophies, highlighting their domestic domination – last campaign was the most pressure they had faced for the title in years.
Pirates are close to unlocking the season-long consistency that is needed to rival Sundowns, but additional depth is required, and that's precisely what they're looking to acquire.
Earlier in the season, Orlando Pirates were eyeing AmaZulu star Rowan Human, who has recently become a free agent after failing to strike a deal with uSuthu, opening the door for Orlando Pirates.
'AmaZulu FC midfielder Rowan Human has been offered to Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs by his representatives as he is set to leave the club on a free transfer. Human will leave Usuthu at the end of June after his contract expires after the 24-year-old failed to reach an agreement with the club on a new contract,' a source revealed.
'Human has been offered to both Soweto giants by his representatives and it could only be a matter of time before he gets snapped up as he will be a free agent and rediscovered his old form.'
Meanwhile, Monnapule Saleng is looking likely to depart this offseason following a six month hiatus over salary demands that has yet to be resolved. Another key decision Orlando Pirates faces is who will don the captain's armband next season follow the release of Innocent Maela.
Long-term target Oswin Appollis seems set to join Kaizer Chiefs after nearly a year of trying to lure the Bafana international – Orlando Pirates seem uninterested after his lackluster second half of the season.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Sundowns fans praise Khuliso Mudau's performance despite loss
Mamelodi Sundowns right back Khuliso Mudau was praised for his performance despite the team's 4-3 loss to Borussia Dortmund at the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday. Having won their open match, Masandawana were hoping for a win at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio but it wasn't to be as poor defending let them down. Sundowns opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Lucas Ribeiro Costa but Dortmund scored three times in the space of 29 minutes with goals by Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy and Jobe Bellingham. The German giants increased their lead in the second half and despite a spirited fight from Downs, BVB claimed a 4-3 victory. Masandawana's loss means they now need to win their final group match against Brazilian side Fluminense if they are to qualify to the next round. Despite the loss, Mamelodi Sundowns fans praised defender Khuliso Mudau for his performance. The right-back scored an own goal in the second half however his defending throughout the tournament has been exceptional. @Geshlagesh wrote: 'I'd love to see Mudau playing overseas, he's a reliable workhorse and deserves to play for a bigger club.' @cfcidich wrote: 'Mudau you are so under-appreciated, to be flying up and down the pitch consistently like that is beautiful. what a player.' @Ka_Lindamkhonto wrote: 'Khuliso Mudau is a funny player, his heroic defending is almost always a result of him being out of position yet his speed, athleticism and impeccable and clean tackling is always bailing him out. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Dortmund edge Sundowns in a seven-goal thriller
Goals from Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Jobe Bellingham, and a Khuliso Mudau own goal ensured the Bundesliga outfit registered their first win of the tournament. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Trent Patterson/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (15367892n) Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau (25) celebreates with Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa (10) and he scored the first goal of the an Fifa Club World Cup game at TQL Stadium Soccer 2025: Mamelodi Sundowns Vs. Borussia Dortmund, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA – 21 Jun 2025 Borussia Dortmund claimed a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in a pulsating FIFA Club World Cup Group F encounter at the TQL Stadium on Saturday night. Sundowns' spirited fightback Goals from Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Jobe Bellingham, and a Khuliso Mudau own goal ensured the Bundesliga outfit registered their first win of the tournament, despite a spirited fightback from the South African champions. ALSO READ: PSG stunned by Botafogo after Messi lights up Club World Cup Sundowns took a surprise lead just 11 minutes into the game. Lucas Ribeiro went on a brilliant solo run from the halfway line before calmly slotting past Gregor Kobel. However, the lead was short-lived following a misplaced pass from Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams who gifted Nmecha a simple finish into an empty net to level matters in the 16th minute. Teboho Mokoena was then caught in possession in midfield, and Dortmund made no mistake on the counter, with Guirassy heading home from Julian Brandt's pinpoint cross to make it 2-1. Dortmund extended their advantage before the break after Williams failed to deal with Brandt's low cross. He spilled the ball into the path of Bellingham, who tapped in his first goal for the club. The German side went into the break 3-1 up after an entertaining first half. The scoreline grew more lopsided on the hour mark when Mudau inadvertently turned a cross into his own net to make it 4-1, but Sundowns hit back just two minutes later. Iqraam Rayners rose highest to head Mokoena's free-kick against the upright, then reacted quickest to steer in the rebound. It was his second goal of the tournament, following his match-winner against Ulsan HD on Wednesday. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso made only one change to the line-up that beat Ulsan, bringing in Tashreeq Matthews for Arthur Sales. Matthews, facing his former club, was withdrawn after 70 minutes for Jayden Adams. Mothiba magic Substitute Lebo Mothiba gave the Brazilians late hope with a composed finish from Kutlwano Letlaku's assist in the 90th minute, but Dortmund held firm in the dying moments to secure all three points. ALSO READ: Flamengo floor Chelsea at Club World Cup The result sees Dortmund move to the top of Group F with four points from two matches, while Sundowns sit second. Attention now shifts to the other clash between Ulsan HD and Fluminense, which kicks off at midnight (SA time) on Sunday.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Borussia Dortmund outclass Mamelodi Sundowns in a 4-3 classic to roar Club World Cup championship challenge
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa heads an uncontested ball against Borussia Dortmund during a Fifa Club World Cup game at TQL Stadium Soccer in Cincinnati on Saturday. | Shutterstock In a classic battle that saw class triumph over endeavour, German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund, eight-time Bundesliga champions, ran out 4-3 winners over South African perennial champions Mamelodi Sundowns, on Saturday in Cincinnati, Ohio. The outcome will take Dortmund to the top of the FIFA Club World Cup's Group F log, and both teams still have a chance to reach the play-offs with one round of matches remaining. At the outset, both teams adopted a possession-based playing style, launching attacks from their defensive third and focusing on intricate, short passes to advance downfield. Sundowns seemed the more adventurous as they sought to unlock the resources of their talented midfield to penetrate the Dortmund defence. Sundowns' attacking rhythm was punctuated by bursts of speed that the opposition struggled to contain but Dortmund did not allow their opponents to settle. The South Africans always looked more likely to score first after 10 minutes, even though Dortmund forced a corner during this period of play. Just as the tide appeared to turn in favour of the Germans, Sundowns capitalised on the fleeting opportunity to take control of the match. Former Dortmund striker Tashreeq Matthews, who was the only change in the Sundowns squad, sent a perfectly timed pass through the central Dortmund defence to Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro, who confidently slotted home the first goal after shaking off three defenders in the 11th minute (1-0). It was a fitting moment for Ribeiro, who was playing his 50th game for Sundowns. A terrible mistake by 'Mr Reliable', as the Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has been dubbed, changed the tone of the match, as they grabbed an equaliser. Williams attempted a pass out from the back but got it all wrong, and the ball fell to the lurking Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who calmly scored the equaliser with unnerving composure in the 16th minute. Sundowns continued to hold the whip, although they did create threatening scoring opportunities. Just past the half-hour mark, Sundowns were dispossessed in midfield, and the tide turned sharply. They were left to rue their lapse as Dortmund's leading marksman Serhou Guirassy made them pay, heading home a goalmouth cross from close range. This gave Dortmund a 2-1 crucial lead, amplifying the pressure on Sundowns as they approached the half-time mark. In a half that held much promise for Sundowns, their anxieties deepened just before half-time when Dortmund's prodigious talent, Jobe Bellingham, found the net with the opposition defence in disarray (3-1). The Birmingham-born midfielder is the brother of England international Jude Bellingham. When second-half play resumed, Sundowns refused to buckle under the pressure and hard to assert their dominance on the field. They managed two half-chances in the opening 15 minutes, but once Dortmund absorbed that pressure, they went further ahead on the hour mark through an own goal by Sundowns fullback Khuliso Mudau (4-1). Despite the setback, Sundowns did not allow despair to set in, and they continued to push forward in search of redemption. The tireless pursuit finally bore fruit three minutes later when Iqraam Rayners reduced the deficit (4-2). In the final minute, substitute Lebo Mothiba scored Sundowns' third goal but it was a case of too little too late.
