Orlando Pirates begin tour of Spain, Sipho Mbule to give a glimpse of what he's bringing

Orlando Pirates’ assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi says it was key to quickly settle in Marbella in order to “integrate the new players into the group as quickly as possible.”

Pirates are on their third consecutive pre-season tour of Spain under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou who joined the team this winter.

And having the last two preparations in Marbella, under coach Jose Riveiro, yielded three trophies and two back-to-back finishes in the league - Ouaddou is expected to improve on that.

As such, the Moroccan-born coach is not leaving anything to chance as has taken 32 players on their tour which will include high-intensity friendlies lined up to test the team’s readiness.

Pirates will face English side Bolton Wanderers on Friday, followed by a meeting with newly crowned Cypriot champions Pafos FC on Sunday.

They’ll then come up against La Liga outfit Las Palmas on July 17, before concluding with a test against Granada on July 19. 

In ensuring that they are ready for these clashes, Pirates didn’t waste time in getting to work in Marbella.

After touching down at Málaga International Airport on Tuesday afternoon before making the short journey to the coastal city of Marbella, they hit the training pitch.

Ouaddou conducted the training session as there was a notable blend of senior players and new signings which included Sipho Mbule and Oswin Appollis.

The duo was marquee signing for the club as they were linked with a number of teams locally and abroad, including Pirates’ arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, this winter.

Mbule and Appollis are both regarded as game-changers, hence they are expected to drive Pirates’ title charge next season in a bid to end Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance.

Mbule, though,  is set to attract the most attention at Pirates as this could be his last chance to live up to expectations after his career was muddied with ill-discipline.

Mbule started his professional career at the set-to-be defunct SuperSport United before he was sold to Sundowns who loaned him out to Sekhukhune United last season.

At all three clubs, he reportedly faced disciplinary charges for ill-discipline, something that slowly but eventually dented his chances of reaching his full potential.

Ouaddou has stressed that they’ll offer Mbule all the support he needs to get to his best, but he has to ensure that he does his part as well.

Based on the snapshot of him that has come out from Pirates, the midfielder, known as the ‘The Master Chef’ looks to be in high spirits and seamlessly adapting at the club.

Should he stay on the straight and narrow path, a well-determined Mbule will not only make Pirates tick, but he could add more light to the careers of the youngsters around him.

Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota, both 20, had an impressive campaign with Pirates, including steering the team to the CAF Champions League semi-final.

However, it won’t be easy for them to carry the team on their shoulders yet again next season - due to the expectations from the fans and being targets of the opponents.

So, having someone like Mbule around will take some pressure off their shoulders, and allow them to go about their business normally - and develop!