Orlando Pirates must now cut off deadwood after bolstering squad

Orlando Pirates have made the biggest splash during the transfer window thus far, strengthening the team to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the Betway Premiership trophy next season.

While the arrival of 10 new players has signalled their intentions, the squad is now bloated and they’ll have to trim some of the fat.

Independent Media football writer Mihlali Baleka looks at five players that the club must offload in the next few weeks to streamline their resources.

Phillip Ndlondlo - Midfielder

The diminutive midfielder is one of the most accurate passers of the ball in top-flight, something that makes him stand out. But while he can easily link up play, Ndlondlo has struggled in defensive situations and scoring crucial goals..

As such, those shortcomings in his game haven’t made him that midfield all-rounder. Hence, he finds himself in and out of the team.

And with the team having made a host of new signings in midfield, including Sipho Mbule, it’s safe to argue that Ndlondlo will be one of the players who’ll be sacrificed by the club.

Zakhele Lepasa - Striker

Lepasa has strong ties with Pirates, having cut his football teeth in the club’s development structures before he was sent out on loan to TS Galaxy.

He proved his prowess at Galaxy, including scoring the solitary goal that helped the team become the first lower-tier outfit to win the Nedbank Cup in 2019.

However, upon returning to Pirates a few seasons ago, he struggled to replicate the same form and has been in and out of the team, including being loaned to SuperSport United 18 months ago.

He had his worst campaign at Pirates last season, as he failed to play a single match for the team, owing to a long-term injury. So that’s why his time to leave the club may have come.

Bandile Shandu - Right-back

Shandu is one of the highly-rated players in the top-flight, dating back to his days at Maritzburg United, now known as Durban City.

He dominated the right-back position at Pirates for years, following the departure of Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Happy Jele. However, Shandu has struggled of late.

Injuries have been his worst enemy, while the arrival of Thabiso Lebitso and Deano van Rooyen hasn’t helped his cause either.

Former Pirates coach Jose Riveiro moved him up the pitch at times, and that didn't help as he was found wanting at times.

Karim Kimvuidi - Attacker

There are few attackers that are as technically gifted as Kimvuidi in the top-flight, thanks to his ability to penetrate the spaces and his eye for goal.

However, for all the skills, the Congolese-born player hasn’t been able to live up to expectations at the club. His most notable contribution in the famous black and white of Pirates was scoring the winning penalty in the MTN8 final against Mameloddi Sundowns in 2023.

Last season, he only made 15 appearances across all competitions for the club. Hence, his future is looking bleak.

Selaelo Rasebotja - Midfielder

After Riveiro got the best out of Thalente Mbatha and Patrick Maswanganyi following poor spells at SuperSport United, he was tipped to do the same with Rasebotja.

But it wasn’t to be. Rasebotja only made 11 appearances for the club across all competitions last term, as he fell down the pecking order.

Reports have since emerged that he finished the season with a long-term injury, something that might stop him from travelling with the team on their tour of Marbella, Spain.

Add that to the fact that it might even be harder for him to break into the team next season given the fresh blood that coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has at his disposal, and his future in Orlando looks rather bleak.