Orlando Pirates Face Crucial Squad Decisions as Pre-Season Spain Tour Winds Down
As Orlando Pirates approach the final stages of their pre-season tour in Spain, the Soweto giants face important decisions regarding the makeup of their squad for the upcoming 2025/26 season. Under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Buccaneers have embarked on an ambitious rebuild, bringing in no fewer than 10 new signings during the current transfer window.
A sizeable 32-member squad traveled to the Spanish coast for the pre-season preparations, with some players remaining back in Johannesburg. Now, with the tour scheduled to wrap up on July 19, Pirates’ technical team is set to begin the critical process of trimming the roster and finalizing the group that will compete in the new campaign.
Insiders within the club reveal that the post-tour period will focus on determining which players will remain part of the first-team setup, who will be sent out on loan to gain valuable game time, and which individuals might be released permanently.
Among the midfielders, Goodman Mosele and Azola Tshobeni are reportedly close to securing moves to Chippa United. Meanwhile, Gilberto, Thuso Moleleki, and Siphelo Baloni face uncertain futures as well. Moleleki and Baloni have attracted interest from newly promoted National First Division side Orbit College, while Gilberto’s current loan spell in Angola could be extended, with Petro Luanda keen to retain his services.
Further speculation surrounds youngsters Selaelo Rasebotja and Siyabonga Ndlozi, both of whom have emerged as potential loan candidates. Several clubs are believed to be closely monitoring their situations, eager to provide them with the competitive minutes needed for their development.
As the clock ticks down to the start of the season, the Buccaneers will need to carefully balance integrating their exciting new signings with offloading surplus players, ensuring a streamlined and competitive squad.
On the pitch, Orlando Pirates will continue their pre-season campaign with fixtures against Spanish La Liga side Las Palmas this Thursday, followed by a concluding match against Granada on Saturday. These matches will offer further opportunities for Ouaddou to assess his squad and make final decisions before returning to South Africa for the season kickoff.
The coming weeks promise to be decisive for Pirates as they look to blend fresh talent with established players, all while maintaining their status as one of South Africa’s footballing powerhouses.
