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Orlando Pirates Announce Five Departures as Squad Streamlines for 2026-27
Orlando Pirates announced that five senior players—Bandile Shandu, Sipho Mbule, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Karim Kimvuidi and Deivi Miguel Vieira, also known as Gilberto—will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of the current season. The club issued a statement on its official website thanking each player for their service and wishing them success in the next chapters of their careers.
The announcement is part of a broader effort to reshape the squad for 2026–27. While the Pirates have already signed four new players, the release of the five veterans is a planned streamlining that aims to balance experience with fresh talent.
The statement did not detail the specific roles each departing player had filled, but the club’s public acknowledgement suggests that each contributed in a meaningful way during their time with the Buccaneers.
Bandile Shandu, a midfielder born in 1995, has been with the Pirates since 2021 and has appeared in over 60 league matches. Sipho Mbule, a central midfielder born in 1998, joined the club in 2025 after a spell with Mamelodi Sundowns. Tshegofatso Mabasa, a forward born in 1996, had previously played for Stellenbosch before signing for the Pirates. Karim Kimvuidi and Deivi Miguel Vieira, whose full backgrounds are less widely reported, also completed their contracts.
The club’s decision to release these players comes as it prepares for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, where South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, will face Mexico in the tournament opener. Relebohile Mofokeng, a key player for the national side, is expected to play a pivotal role in the match. Bafana Bafana is ranked 60th in the world, while Mexico holds the 14th spot.
Mexico and South Africa will kick off the World Cup on Thursday, 11 June, at 21:00 South African time. The game will be played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a venue that hosted the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the infamous 1986 match where Diego Maradona scored the “Hand of God.” The match is scheduled to be a high‑profile encounter that will set the tone for both teams’ campaigns.
In summary, Orlando Pirates are moving forward with a squad that will be different next season, having released five senior players and added four new signings. The club’s public thanks to the departing players underscores their contributions, while the focus shifts to building a team capable of competing in the Betway Premiership and supporting South Africa’s national team as it prepares for the World Cup. Bafana Bafana’s next match against Mexico will be a key moment for the country’s footballing ambitions, and the Pirates’ roster changes may influence the depth of talent available for national selection.
The Pirates will continue to monitor the transfer market in the coming weeks, and the national team will look to Mofokeng and other squad members to perform on the world stage. The outcomes of the World Cup opener and the Pirates’ new season will both be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
The announcement is part of a broader effort to reshape the squad for 2026–27. While the Pirates have already signed four new players, the release of the five veterans is a planned streamlining that aims to balance experience with fresh talent.
The statement did not detail the specific roles each departing player had filled, but the club’s public acknowledgement suggests that each contributed in a meaningful way during their time with the Buccaneers.
Bandile Shandu, a midfielder born in 1995, has been with the Pirates since 2021 and has appeared in over 60 league matches. Sipho Mbule, a central midfielder born in 1998, joined the club in 2025 after a spell with Mamelodi Sundowns. Tshegofatso Mabasa, a forward born in 1996, had previously played for Stellenbosch before signing for the Pirates. Karim Kimvuidi and Deivi Miguel Vieira, whose full backgrounds are less widely reported, also completed their contracts.
The club’s decision to release these players comes as it prepares for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, where South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, will face Mexico in the tournament opener. Relebohile Mofokeng, a key player for the national side, is expected to play a pivotal role in the match. Bafana Bafana is ranked 60th in the world, while Mexico holds the 14th spot.
Mexico and South Africa will kick off the World Cup on Thursday, 11 June, at 21:00 South African time. The game will be played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a venue that hosted the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the infamous 1986 match where Diego Maradona scored the “Hand of God.” The match is scheduled to be a high‑profile encounter that will set the tone for both teams’ campaigns.
In summary, Orlando Pirates are moving forward with a squad that will be different next season, having released five senior players and added four new signings. The club’s public thanks to the departing players underscores their contributions, while the focus shifts to building a team capable of competing in the Betway Premiership and supporting South Africa’s national team as it prepares for the World Cup. Bafana Bafana’s next match against Mexico will be a key moment for the country’s footballing ambitions, and the Pirates’ roster changes may influence the depth of talent available for national selection.
The Pirates will continue to monitor the transfer market in the coming weeks, and the national team will look to Mofokeng and other squad members to perform on the world stage. The outcomes of the World Cup opener and the Pirates’ new season will both be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
