BREAKING | Pirates Release Thulani Hlatshwayo

Orlando Pirates have announced the departure of Thulani Hlatshwayo after he spent two seasons with the club of his childhood dreams.

The former Bafana Bafana and Bidvest Wits captain leaves with 51 appearances and one goal across all competitions under his name. He was the leader of the Sea Robbers team that won MTN 8 in 2020 against Bloemfontein Celtic under the leadership of Josef Zinnbaeur.

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“Tyson” as he’s affectionately known has been out of favour for a long time, being overlooked almost the whole previous season. Now with the arrival of the new center back Tapelo Xoki, it means the competition would be even stiffer.

Pirates statement:

Orlando Pirates Football Club and Tyson Hlatshwayo jointly announce the amicable parting of ways between the two parties.

A leader amongst men, Tyson has always sought to make a meaningful contribution wherever he plays, and this is what has ultimately influenced his decision to request the Club to grant him his request to leave.

Hlatshwayo said: “My dream to wear the black and white jersey of Orlando Pirates has been fulfilled.

“When I came here, I said I wanted a trophy, and we were able to deliver on that mandate. Unfortunately, the second season didn’t work out the way I wanted it to, and this is what has informed my decision to request the Club to grant me my wish of leaving because I still have a lot to give and a lot to offer in the field of play. This is something that I shared with Management.”

In a career that spans over 13 years, the Hlatshwayo name has contributed to the success of every club he has played for. So, it was no surprise that when the Soweto-born defender joined the Mighty Buccaneers in 2020; he was able to help guide his boyhood club to the MTN8 title in his first season.

“We had some positive talks (with Management) but with everything taken into careful consideration I have decided it’s the right time for me to leave the Club,” added Hlatshwayo.

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“I will forever be grateful to the Chairman and the Club for granting me this wish. The Club and I have always had a fantastic relationship, which will continue beyond my playing days.

“For me, today is a new chapter filled with many emotions. There’s a sense of pride, sadness and also optimism toward the future.

“Finally, to the fans, I would personally like to thank you for all the support.”
On behalf of the entire Orlando Pirates family, we would like to thank Tyson for his meaningful contribution and professionalism during his stay.

We wish you nothing but the best as you enter the next chapter in your footballing career.