Orlando Pirates’ New Signing Kabelo Kgositsile to Stay with Baroka for Now

Orlando Pirates fans will have to wait a little longer to see Kabelo Kgositsile don the iconic black and red jersey, as the young talent is set to spend another season at Baroka FC.

Despite having reportedly penned a five-year contract with the Soweto giants, insiders confirm that the 23-year-old will remain in the Motsepe Foundation Championship for the 2025/26 campaign. Pirates have opted to loan Kgositsile back to Baroka, allowing him to continue his development with the Limpopo-based outfit.

This strategy mirrors a familiar pattern between the two clubs, who have maintained a healthy working relationship over the years. In a similar move four years ago, Pirates secured the services of striker Evidence Makgopa but allowed him to continue with Baroka for an additional season before bringing him to Johannesburg after Baroka’s relegation from the DStv Premiership.

Sources close to the matter suggest that the same long-term vision is being applied to Kgositsile, who has established himself as a key player in the second tier of South African football. His consistent performances over the past two seasons reportedly caught the attention of Pirates scouts, prompting the club to act swiftly to secure his signature.

Kgositsile joins a growing list of players who have made the move from Baroka to Pirates in recent years, including the likes of Gift Motupa, Thabiso Kutumela, Marshall Munetsi, Goodman Mosele, Donald Mukondelela, and Collins Makgaka. These transfers have often been strategically structured to ensure a smooth transition for the players involved.

Meanwhile, another player set to join the Buccaneers is right-back Tshepo Mashiloane. The 23-year-old defender will officially make the move to Orlando Pirates in the upcoming season. According to sources, Baroka chairman Khurishi Mphahlele informed the squad during their final meeting of the season that Mashiloane will not return for pre-season training, having completed his switch to the Soweto club.

With Pirates aiming to strengthen their squad ahead of a competitive campaign, the additions of Mashiloane and Kgositsile—albeit delayed—signal the club’s intent to invest in emerging talent while allowing them the time and space to mature.

Fans may not see Kgositsile at Orlando Stadium just yet, but the long-term planning suggests a bright future for the promising midfielder in the famous black and red.