The 3 players Pirates must to sign to challenge Sundowns

Orlando Pirates legend Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi has named three players the Soweto giants must sign to stop Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance in SA’s topflight.

In the just-ended season, Pirates couldn’t keep up with Sundowns in the DStv Premiership as the Tshwane giants were miles ahead.

The Buccaneers concluded the 2022/23 campaign in second place on the log standings. They were 16 points behind champions Sundowns, who clinched the league title for the sixth time in a row.

However, Pirates had a good season as they won two trophies. The MTN8 and Nedbank Cup with coach Jose Riveiro at the helm.

In spite of Pirates’ success, Vilakazi believes they can do better in terms of recruitment. This is in light of previous transfer window periods where Pirates would recruit a number of players. But those players would end up not adding value to the squad.

THE THREE PLAYERS ORLANDO PIRATES MUST SIGN

According to Vilakazi, Bucs must sign the likes of Andile Jali, Iqraam Rayners and Junior Mendieta to close the gap on Sundowns.

The retired attacker is of the view that Jali, Rayners and Mendieta are quality players with capabilities to help take Pirates to the next level.

“I think at the moment I’m going to say that Pirates have got such a lot of attacking players like [Thembinkosi] Lorch, [Kermit] Erasmus and [Monnapule] Saleng and others like [Terrence] Dzvukamanja,” Vilakazi told FARPost. 

“But the department [attacking] lacks is a player that will supply them with regular chances. They need a midfielder that is going to give them the service. A midfielder like Jali to close the gap on Sundowns.

“The most disappointing thing is Pirates’ midfield. If you look at [Thabang] Monare and [Miguel] Timm, those are not players who can build from the back. This is where Jali comes in; they cannot make those forward passes.

TSO VILAKAZI ON ANDILE JALI

“When you have Jali in your team. He always looks forward and can make those forward passes that will make the Pirates frontmen score,” added Vilakazi.

With Pirates set to play in the CAF Champions League next season, Tso Vilakazi stated that the club should consider signing Jali to compete at the continental level.

Pirates’ all-time top scorer with 52 goals, Vilakazi said Jali can be the link between the strikers and defenders.

“If they [Pirates] want to win the CAF Champions League they need to bring in Jali and play him next to [Makhehlene] Makhaula,” he declared. “We need quality players like Jali, Mendieta, yes, can play as a striker and, on the wing, Rayners as well.

“With the three players I mentioned, you are bringing in quality, not just numbers. These are the types of players that Pirates need to be competitive in the league and on the continent.”        

By Joshua Hendricks

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