One of South Africa’s deepest teams is that of the Orlando Pirates. Do you think these players would start for the Kaizer Chiefs, their rivals?
Our choice is based on the Pirates’ squad’s remarkable depth as well as the relative areas of weakness in both their and the Pirates’ squads:
Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Thalente Mbatha, Sipho Chaine, Deano Van Rooyen, Thabiso Sesane, and Tshegofatso Mabasa.
There’s a mad scramble for bragging rights as the country’s top goal scorer in this season’s Betway Premiership. The LATEST updated numbers. Image: Joseph Betrand X
March 5, 2025, may be remembered as a significant day in the club’s history. We may consider the Orlando Pirates’ 19-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s debut to be a significant turning point. Pirates won 1-0, and Mbokazi appropriately ended his career with a clean sheet. It’s the first of many, and Joseph Makhanya, head coach of the DStv Diski Challenge [DDC], has been instrumental in his ascent to fame. In the Nedbank Cup, Mbokazi has started games against SuperSport (he opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw, but the Pirates won on penalties) and Stellenbosch (0-0 draw). In that exciting cup match against Matsatsantsa, Mbokazi was named man of the match.
The Citizen reports that Pirates are open to selling Gilberto, a winger for Angolan. In the Buccaneers’ starting lineup, the former Petro de Luanda player was not selected because young Mohau Nkota came on just as the left-footed winger needed him. It is unlikely that Gilberto would play for the Sea Robbers again, as he is now on loan with his old team.
Sinoxolo Kwayiba, a playmaker for Chippa and Bafana, has reportedly drawn interest from Kaizer Chiefs, according to SoccerLaduma. The Orlando Pirates are also interested in the 24-year-old. Jose Riveiro’s MTN8 champions were ready to make a makeweight offer for Kwayiba in late 2024, using midfielders Siphelo Baloni and Goodman Mosele. Now, it seems as though Chiefs have put up a similar kind of offer.
