Orlando Pirates got a boost after TS Galaxy’s victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers are currently nine points behind Sundowns, the league leaders, but they have a chance to close the gap to just three points, with a couple of games in hand—Pirates have played 14 games, while Sundowns have played 16.
Rejected Mega Offer for Mofokeng
Reports reveal that Egypt’s Zamalek SC made a R25.8 million offer for Orlando Pirates’ rising star, Relebohile Mofokeng, but the Buccaneers turned it down.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, who has been following Mofokeng’s progress, believes this will be the young talent’s final season in the PSL amid growing interest from top clubs abroad:
“Talking about Mofokeng, I hope he makes the right choices. I just hope he doesn’t go to a team where he won’t get enough playing time,” Broos told iDiski Times.
“I see clubs like Barcelona and Rangers linked to him, and I’m a little concerned. I hope the people around him make the decision based on what’s best for his career, not just financial gain.”
“I understand his parents want what’s best for him, but there’s also the temptation of big money. Let’s hope they make the right call. We’ll see in June if Rele is still at Orlando Pirates, but making the right decision is key.”
Ndah’s Recovery Update
In the lead-up to the match against Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates suffered a major blow with the injury of key defender Thabiso Sesane, who ruptured his tendon against Sekhukhune United.
To fill the gap, the club is fast-tracking Olisa Ndah’s recovery. The Nigerian hasn’t played since September, and with the injury to Sesane, they’ll be relying on Ndah to return to action soon.
Riveiro’s Thoughts After Sundowns Defeat
After Orlando Pirates’ tough loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Jose Riveiro stood by his team’s performance, explaining the roles his players took on during the match:
“Kabelo gave us a lot of help on the ball, always giving us the time we needed to organize ourselves. In the second half, he provided balance in midfield. Even in defense, he was winning duels and supporting the center-backs.”
“Sometimes, we think Makhaula is more defensive and Kabelo is more offensive, but in our system, everyone defends when we don’t have the ball, and we all work together to attack.”
