Orlando Pirates have a surplus of quality options in all departments. That could see them selling a few popular stars in January.
Tshegofatso Mabasa was the finest striker in the country in 2024.
However, he’s fallen behind Evidence Makgopa and even Yanela Mbuthuma in the pecking order.
Mabasa is too good to sit on the bench
Tshegofatso Mabasa is a proven scorer at the elite level, but he’s been frozen out by Bafana boss Hugo Broos and Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. The 29-year-old Mabasa bagged the PSL Golden Boot in the 2023-2024 campaign with 16 goals in 26 games; 13 matches for Pirates and 13 outings for Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows. His last outing for Bafana was way back in October 2021. This season for Pirates, despite not being a regular, he’s still got four goals and an assist from nine outings across all competitions. If the Sea Robbers deem him surplus to requirements because of their depth in that position, there will be several suitors willing to take a risk on him.
The club also has some big decisions to make in central defence.
Orlando Pirates hope to close out 2025 in style
The Sea Robbers are second in the league, three points adrift of leaders Sundowns. However, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men have two games in hand. Their next test is a home match with Chippa on Saturday, 22 November at 15:30. Between the match below against Richards Bay on 2 December and their next outing, Pirates will have a whopping 53 days to wait until their next assignment, a trip to Sekhukhune on 24 January 2026.
- Sat, 22 Nov: Pirates vs Chippa, 15:30
- Sat, 29 Nov: Durban City vs Pirates, 15:30
- Tue, 2 Dec: Pirates vs Richards Bay, 19:30