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Goal takes a look at the players who would improve the Bucs team as they look to build a team that can win trophies.
The giants of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Orlando Pirates will need reinforcements to catch Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers were forced to watch the Sundowns emulate them by becoming the second club to win a national treble in the PSL era.
The Pirates finished the recent 2019/20 season seven points behind Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Sundowns.
Bucs fans are excited about the arrival of high-profile acquisitions Thulani Hlatshwayo and Deon Hotto, who recently parted ways with Bidvest Wits.
The signing of two more players of such caliber will complete a sensational transfer window for the Soweto giants, who are looking to end their six-year trophy drought in the 2020/21 season.
Goal takes a look at two players, who will help transform them into serious title contenders:
Quality goalkeeper
Pirates are known to be in the market for a goalkeeper and had to rely on Wayne Sandilands, whose contract with the club expired in June 2020.
The 37-year-old was the undisputed starting goalkeeper for the Buccaneers ahead of Siyabonga Mpontshane and Joris Delle and is very likely to receive a new contract.
Third-choice goalkeeper Mpontshane’s future with the club is uncertain, as he has been linked with KwaZulu-Natal clubs Lamontville Golden and Maritzburg United.
While much was expected of Delle after joining former Dutch champion Feyenoord’s Buccaneers, he fell short of expectations.
It is unclear if the Pirates will retain the 30-year-old Frenchman for the new season.
Richard Ofori
It is imperative for the Pirates to bring in a new goalkeeper to improve their goalkeeping department as they cannot continue to rely on the aging Sandilands.
The Soweto giants need a quality, young shooting stopper that can push Sandilands out and Maritzburg United vice-captain Richard Ofori fits the bill.
The Ghana international is coming off his best season in the PSL in which he was one of the most outstanding goalkeepers.
Ofori kept 11 clean sheets in 28 games and only Sandilands (12) and SuperSport United captain Ronwen Williams (13) had more clean sheets.
A big, imposing and agile closer, Ofori has the potential to become the best goalkeeper not only in South Africa but on the continent, having recently been named second vice captain of Ghana.
The 26-year-old is on the radar of the Pirates, who really could use a little depth in their goalkeeping department before a long and grueling campaign.
The Buccaneers are set to compete in five major competitions, including the Caf Confederation Cup.
Budding defender
The Pirates had the worst defensive record (29 goals conceded) among the top five teams in the league standings and their defense was their Achilles heel.
Happy Jele was once again the Bucs’ best defender despite being 33 years old, and partnered with several players while coach Josef Zinnbauer searched for a perfect partner.
That’s why the Buccaneers have brought in Bafana Bafana captain Hlatshwayo, who is arguably the PSL’s best central defender.
However, players like Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Alfred Ndengane are past their prime.
Rushine De Reuck
The Soweto giants need younger, fresher blood to inject into their defense and a player like Rushine De Reuck would be a perfect addition to the team.
The 24-year-old was one of the country’s most outstanding defenders last season and a key player in the third-best defensive record (27 goals conceded) in the league.
De Reuck, a dominant, technically gifted and elegant center-back, has been touted as an international future Bafana Bafana.
De Reuck would offer stiff competition to Hlatshwayo and Jele, as well as being a great option if Zinnbauer opts for a 3-4-3 formation as he often did in the recent season.
A tight defense is key for any team challenging for trophies and once the Pirates resolve their defensive woes, they will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
