Orlando Pirates Strengthen Squad with Key Signings and Departures
Orlando Pirates have moved early and decisively in the market, sealing three signings and confirming several departures as the club quietly reshapes its squad for the 2026/27 campaign.
This is not a marquee-name window. It is something more deliberate: a bet on youth, versatility and upside.
Rapoo: modern full-back for a modern Pirates
At the heart of it is Neo Rapoo, a 20-year-old left-back arriving from Siwelele FC and forged in the development structures of SuperSport United.
He comes with the profile every modern full-back needs. Rapoo can defend his channel, but he also has the legs and technical polish to surge into attacking zones and stay there. Comfortable on the ball, willing to overlap, happy to engage higher up the pitch – he fits the template of a high-energy, front-foot Buccaneers side.
Youth international experience with South Africa adds another layer. He has already tasted football under pressure, already worn the badge at a level where mistakes are punished. Pirates are clearly backing that grounding, trusting that his blend of athleticism and technical quality can be refined into a long-term solution down the left.
Baliti: versatility parked, but not forgotten
Joining him on the books, though not immediately in the dressing room, is fellow defender Aphiwe Baliti.
Also signed from Siwelele, the 24-year-old arrives as a left-back who can comfortably operate on either flank. That two-footed reliability and ability to switch sides gives any coach tactical flexibility, especially across a long, congested season.
For now, Pirates are playing the long game. Baliti will head straight back to Siwelele on a season-long loan for 2026/27, tasked with stacking up minutes and sharpening his game in the top flight. It is a move that keeps him in competitive football, protects his development curve and allows Pirates to monitor a defender with the tools to plug multiple gaps across the back line.
The message is clear: he is one for Pirates, just not yet.
Mmolai: energy and control in the engine room
In midfield, the club has moved to add legs and intelligence with the signing of 23-year-old central midfielder Matome Mmolai from Leicesterford City.
Mmolai brings energy, but he is not just a runner. He is comfortable in possession, able to knit play together and contribute across different phases – from building attacks to disrupting opposition rhythm. That kind of all-round profile offers coaches options: a link man in a double pivot, a dynamic presence in a three, or a shuttler who can press high and still show composure on the ball.
With the new campaign looming, his arrival deepens the competition in the engine room. Pirates are not only looking for depth; they are looking for a midfield that can impose itself, home and away.
Departures: a changing guard
While fresh faces arrive, the door has also swung open the other way.
Orlando Pirates have confirmed that Gomolemo Khoto and Siyabonga Ndlozi have completed permanent moves to Sekhukhune United. Both now step into a new chapter at Babina Noko, taking their careers into an environment where regular football is the clear target.
Right-back Tshepho Mashiloane will also return to Sekhukhune United on a season-long loan, a move that keeps him in the Premier Soccer League mix while Pirates continue to refine their defensive options.
Taken together, the business paints a clear picture. Pirates are trimming, refreshing and investing – not in short-term headlines, but in players who can grow into the shirt. The question now is simple: how quickly can this new core turn potential into influence on the pitch when the 2026/27 season kicks off?
