MTN8 and Nedbank Cup champions Orlando Pirates have had a busy week. Two players have been released, while five more are also expected to bid farewell.
ORLANDO PIRATES RELEASE STRIKER AND MIDFIELDER
As the club announced on Monday and Tuesday, the Cameroonian striker Souaibou Marou was released after only making four appearances this season. Fortune Makaringe has also been let go after playing 14 times.
Seeing that the decisions were made on playing time, five more Orlando Pirates players are also expected to leave due to limited contribution as well as expiring deals.
- Richard Ofori, goalkeeper – Three appearances
- Siyabonga Mpontshane, goalkeeper – One appearance
- Bandile Shandu, right back – 16 appearances
- Thabang Monare, central midfielder – 19 appearancess plus expiring contract
- Kermit Erasmus, forward – 11 appearances.
SUCCESSFULL SEASON
Orlando Pirates, under Jose Riveiro, have been a superb success. The Buccaneers captain Innocent Maela has revealed one of the secrets.
JOSE RIVEIRO SUCCESS AT ORLANDO PIRATES
The 48-year-old Spaniard arrived in June 2022. With two seasons under his belt, Orlando Pirates won a fourth trophy in the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns in Mbombela on Saturday. Themba Zwane opened the scoring for Kabo Yellow, before Orlando Pirates’ equaliser and winner came from Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng.
INNOCENT MAELA ON JOSE RIVEIRO
“When you have to talk about the coach you know, it’s all about how we prepare each and everyday for these moments,” the Orlando Pirates skipper said via SABC Sport.
“He always tells us that you don’t prepare for the cup final a week leading up to it, you prepare for such moments each and every day and I think he has installed that mentality within the team, within the group and I’m not surprised that the boys are performing like this when it matters the most,” the Orlando Pirates left back/central defender added.
“I’ve always said you know, that it’s important for us to make sure that when we are given the opportunity, you make sure that you go out there and you grab it and you contribute. That is why when I was appointed the captain, I kept on preaching that I’m not the only one who’s leading the team, each and every individual has that responsibility to perform when they are called upon,” the Orlando Pirates defender added.
“The coach told us before the game that building up to the week we must be ready, everyone must be ready because this game needs a certain plan and you need different players who have different qualities. So, we knew that this was gonna happen and fortunately, it went well for us,” Maela concluded.
Speaking to the media on Saturday night, Riveiro said that the team has grown and matured compared to last season.
“If you ask me as a person who’s involved in the group every single minute and I know what we are, what you used to say here ‘cooking’. We are cooking, I think the progression, the evolution of the team, this season is superior than the last season in my opinion,” the Orlando Pirates coach said via the Sowetan.
Despite finishing with lower points this season compared to last season, Riveiro feels that the football was better this season.
“That means 8/10 or 7 and a half, I don’t know, it might be our fans the ones who will in the end and you guys judge the work that we do but me because my position maybe an important part in the group, like I said before the final this season in terms of football is better than the last season,” the Orlando Pirates metor added.
Meanwhile, with the CAF Champions League coming next season, the Buccaneers are expected to add a number of new players to create depth. The likes of Thabang Monare, Fortune Makaringe, Kermit Erasmus, Zakhele Lepasa, Katlego Otladisa and Souaibou Marou are set to be leaving.
This futher means that Orlando Pirates will be focusing on signing midfielders and forwards rather than players in the backline.
