Orlando Pirates Strengthen Squad with New Signings Ahead of 2026/27
Orlando Pirates have moved early and decisively ahead of the 2026/27 season, unveiling a trio of new signings that underlines a clear strategy: younger, quicker, and technically sharper.
The Buccaneers have secured the services of Neo Rapoo, Aphiwe Baliti and Matome Mmolai, while confirming the exits of Gomolemo Khoto and Siyabonga Ndlozi to Sekhukhune United and a loan return for Tshepho Mashiloane.
This is not a quiet reshuffle. It’s a reset of key areas in the squad.
Rapoo: Modern Full-Back for a Modern Pirates
At just 20, Neo Rapoo arrives from Siwelele FC with the kind of profile that fits the modern game perfectly. A left-back by trade, but not the old-school, stay-at-home type.
Moulded in SuperSport United’s development structures and already capped at youth level for South Africa, Rapoo brings pace, energy and a clean left foot. He defends with intensity, but just as importantly, he’s comfortable driving forward, overlapping, and stepping into advanced areas.
For a Pirates side that increasingly leans on its full-backs to stretch the pitch and inject tempo, Rapoo looks less like a gamble and more like a calculated investment in the future.
Baliti: Versatile, Experienced – and Heading Straight Back Out
Also arriving from Siwelele is 24-year-old defender Aphiwe Baliti, another player most comfortable at left-back but with the rare ability to operate on either flank.
He offers versatility, athleticism and experience in the domestic top-flight – exactly the type of profile coaches lean on during long, gruelling seasons. Yet his immediate path is already mapped out.
Baliti will return to Siwelele FC on a season-long loan for the 2026/27 campaign, a move designed to keep him playing regular first-team football while Pirates monitor his development closely. It’s a classic long-view decision: secure the talent now, sharpen it elsewhere, and reassess when he’s ready to challenge for a starting berth.
Mmolai Bolsters a Busy Midfield
In the centre of the pitch, Pirates have added 23-year-old midfielder Matome Mmolai from Leicesterford City, a signing that deepens competition in one of the most important departments.
Mmolai is energetic, technically tidy and comfortable receiving the ball under pressure. He can link play, recycle possession and contribute across different phases, the sort of all-rounder modern midfields rely on to maintain control and rhythm.
With his arrival, Pirates gain another option who can slot into various midfield roles without disrupting the team’s structure. It’s the kind of addition that doesn’t always grab headlines but often proves decisive over a long season.
Departures: Space Made for the New Guard
While fresh faces arrive, others move on. Pirates have confirmed that Gomolemo Khoto and Siyabonga Ndlozi have completed permanent transfers to Sekhukhune United, a significant double deal that reshapes the defensive depth chart.
Right-back Tshepho Mashiloane, meanwhile, will return to Babina Noko on a season-long loan, keeping him in familiar surroundings and regular action.
Taken together, these moves paint a clear picture. Pirates are trimming, refreshing and recalibrating – clearing pathways for emerging talent while keeping a close eye on development through carefully chosen loans.
The question now is simple: how quickly can this new wave turn potential into impact in black and white?
