The Sea Robbers may have made it to the Caf Confederation Cup final last season, but their failure to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns, who won a second domestic treble in three seasons, became the main takeaway as it was clear the Buccaneers needed changes.

The club have been quick to make those changes, announcing the departures of co-coach Fadlu Davids and former Bafana Bafana skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo last week.

The changes didn’t stop there as the club looked to yet again refresh in the transfer market.

In a statement released on Monday night, the Soweto giants ended speculation by announcing the arrival of Makgopa, who they have been linked to for some time, alongside Bienvenu Eva Nga, Miguel Timm and Azola Matrose.

☠️ 📰 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📰

🖥 Read the Latest News 👉🏿 https://t.co/aAmt3BoWjR

⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/ZkeKCCgm6T

— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) June 20, 2022

It was confirmed that “the quartet will form part of pre-season preparations which commence this week”.

Meanwhile, the club also revealed a list of players who won’t be at the club next season:

– Kwanda Mngonyama
– Abel Mabaso
– Justice Chabalala
– Elson Sithole
– Wayne Sandilands
– Thabang Monare

Sandilands’ contract ends on 30 June and will not be renewed. However, Pirates are currently in discussions with management regarding another role for him at the club while contractual talks with Monare collapsed as the two parties could not agree on terms.

The post Four in, six out as Pirates ring the changes ahead of new season appeared first on SportsClub.

The club’s goalkeeping coach position has been vacant ever since the Buccaneers parted ways with Jyri Nieminen in December last year.

Veteran goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands has been filling the role on a temporary basis while the club looked for a permanent solution.

The 34-year-old coach, who holds a Uefa B Licence, has set his sights on making their goalkeeping department the best in South Africa.

“If you train every training session and goalkeeping session at the highest level, [the players] should adapt quickly to my way of working, the way I try to improve the goalkeepers,” Woudenberg told the club’s media.

“To be honest, if you look at the last week, how they have already made steps in their development, it won’t be tough to reach the highest level, especially at a club like Pirates [where] you must be the best goalkeeper in the country, and that’s what I want to reach with all of the goalkeepers.

“We have a tough pre-season but I think it is very good for the guys and, if you look at the squad, if you look at the goalkeepers, if you look at the technical team, it is top quality in every department and I’m happy to be here.

“I think it’s going to be very positive and I hope that they can show the things we are working on during the games. It’s good that we have a tough pre-season with a lot of training sessions, but it’s also a good opportunity for us to improve everything on each goalkeeper.”

The Soweto giants current have five goalkeepers on their books, who include Sandilands, Richard Ofori, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Kopano Thuntsane and Elson Sithole.

“Every goalkeeper is in a different phase of his career; we have two youngsters, three older goalkeepers, and I’m happy to help them all with their development still,” he added.

“I know Orlando Pirates is the biggest club in South Africa and one of the biggest teams on the continent of Africa, and I think everybody wants to work for a big club likes this …”

The post Dutch coach joins Orlando Pirates technical team appeared first on SportsClub.

The Buccaneers’ hopes of challenging for the league title ended after they played out to a goalless draw with Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday.

Sandilands says that winning the man-of-the-match award proved that he was the busier of the two goalkeepers, which doesn’t reflect to well on the team.

‘I think it’s a bit of mixed emotions. Obviously, as a keeper you don’t want to be man of the match because that means you were busier than you should be,’ Sandilands told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘It’s a difficult match, obviously it’s not easy to come to Stellenbosch. A team that is well organised, well coached and obviously fighting for their lives.

‘Ja, we tried our best, obviously we have to get back to the drawing board, sharpen up our performance and try to get as many points that are available with the games remaining.

‘There’s been some good moments and there’s been some low moments. I think for us it’s just a matter of trying to find that consistency, you know.

‘Obviously, we have a gameplan, the coaches put a gameplan together and obviously we just need to stick to it and perform within the structure and try remain as consistent as possible and try put good performances week in and week out.

‘We have to match every team that we come up against. There’s a lot of intensity, a lot of hunger from the opponents; first of all we have to match that and from there the quality within the team needs to speak for itself.

‘We’ll keep on going, we have to make sure that we just stick to what we’re good at and make sure we’re more consistent.’

The post Sandilands: We have to make sure we’re more consistent appeared first on SportsClub.

Sandilands played a crucial role in helping the Buccaneers finish the 2019-20 Absa Premiership campaign in third place to book their place in the next season’s Caf Confederation Cup.

The 37-year-old managed to keep 12 clean sheets in the league, with one of his most heroic and recent performances coming against SuperSport United where he saved two penalties to help Pirates secure a 2-1 victory over his former club.

When asked about his impressive performance for the Buccaneers this season, Sandilands said: ‘Defending is a team effort.

‘The success goes to the guys in front of me. Remember, defending starts higher up the field. Everybody is involved in making sure that we keep a clean sheet.

‘Overall, I am happy to have contributed to the team in some way this season. When you are playing regularly usually it means you are doing something right and I can only focus on working even harder next season.

‘I am the type of person who always looks to improve and try to see what we can do better as a team. I guess it’s my attitude of never being satisfied. People close to me can attest to this. I am always looking to push the boundaries, I guess this is what has kept me going all these years.’

Sandilands has vast experience, playing for the likes of SuperSport United, Platinum Stars, Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates during a career spanning 16 years.

‘Look, I have been in this game for some time now and I have had the opportunity to be exposed to all the good and bad in our football. But the one thing that has remained consistent in all my years in the game is two things – discipline and hard work! There is no magic wand here. In order to get ahead in this game, you need to be disciplined and be prepared to work hard,’ he said.

‘I approach every season as if it’s my first, I don’t take anything for granted. If there is advise I can give to the younger players it is to put in the work and you will reap the benefits, but cut corners and we know how that story ends.’

The post Sandilands: I‘m focused on working even harder next season appeared first on SportsClub.

Goals from Vincent Pule and Zakhele Lepasa fired the Buccaneers up to fourth spot on the log standings with 46 points, a point behind third place Matsatsantsa, who scored a consolation goal through Luke Fleurs.

WATCH: Orlando Pirates vs SuperSport United

The post Highlights: Sandilands heroics leads Pirates past SuperSport appeared first on SportsClub.

The Buccaneers managed to secure the win after defeating Matsatsantsa 2-1 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.

The wins see Pirates move up to fourth place in the Absa Premiership standings level on 46 points with Bidvest Wits, while SuperSport remains in third place with 47 points after 28 matches played so far this season.

Sandilands, who was named Man of the Match for his performance, is delighted to see his side walk away with all three points after putting in a good shift for the Soweto giants.

‘I’m happy for the three points, since we’ve been in the bio-bubble it has been a hard grind for us but I’m super happy that we can come away with three points,’ Sandilands told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘For us it’s good, the vibe now going back to the hotel will be a little bit better that it has been. So we’re looking forward to it.

‘Sometimes it goes your way on the day so I’m grateful that I was able to help the team and that it was our day today, we got the three valuable points that we needed.’

🎙️ Your Man of the Match Wayne Sandilands gave us his thoughts after an outstanding performance against SuperSport United. pic.twitter.com/SriXOePh3y

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 29, 2020

The post Sandilands grateful to help Pirates secure three points appeared first on SportsClub.

The Buccaneers will be in search of revenge after Amakhosi edged them 3-2 in the last Soweto derby encounter at the FNB Stadium on 9 November 2019.

Pirates currently sit in third place in the Absa Premiership standings with 39 points after 21 matches played. They trail log-leaders Chiefs by six points, having played one more game than Ernst Middendorp’s men.

A win for the Sea Robbers will take them above Mamelodi Sundowns and up to second place on the league table, reducing Amakhosi’s lead to just three points.

Josef Zinnbauer will be hoping striker Gabadinho Mhango will be at his best against their rivals, having already found the back of the net in the league on 14 times this season.

Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30pm.

Take a look at Orlando Pirates’ predicted starting XI:

Goalkeeper

Wayne Sandilands

Defenders

Happy Jele (c), Innocent Maela, Ntsikelelo Nyauza

Midfielders 

Ben Motshwari,  Abel Mabaso, Fortune Makaringe, Vincent Pule

Forwards

Thembinkosi Lorch, Luvuyo Mamela, Gabadinho Mhango.

The post Predicted Pirates starting XI vs Chiefs appeared first on SportsClub.

The Soweto giants come head to head at the FNB Stadium on Saturday in a game which will have a big impact on the league title race.

With Chiefs currently top of the table, four points ahead of Sundowns in second and six points clear of third-placed Pirates, a victory for the Sea Robbers would heat things up heading into the final stages of the campaign.

Speaking after his side’s Nedbank Cup win on Sunday, Mosimane admitted that he would prefer for Pirates to win and undoubtedly open the door for his side.

Sandilands was asked about the former Bafana Bafana mentor’s comments but the shotstopper insisted that they are solely focused on the next game.

‘I am not really focusing on what Pitso said. My mind is not in that space. Sundowns are a battle-tested team and are the defending champions,’ Sandilands said.

‘Pitso is a top coach who has been there and done that. Our concern is to get the points in the derby like we always look to do in any game.

‘Three points for us is key. That is what we are striving for in every single game.

‘Some people consider this a three-horse race but we also have to remember that Wits are in the mix. A few teams will look to make a title charge. Our next four games will be very important because we play Chiefs and Sundowns,’ he concluded.

The post Sandilands: Pirates focusing on Soweto derby not Sundowns appeared first on SportsClub.

The Buccaneers claimed their sixth consecutive win in the Absa Premiership when they secured a late victory over Black Leopards at the Thohoyandou Stadium through a late own goal from Thabiso Mokoena.

Pirates have now replaced Mamelodi Sundowns in second place with 39 points, six points behind rivals Kaizer Chiefs after 20 matches played so far this season.

Sandilands, who kept a clean sheet in their last game, is enjoying life at Pirates this campaign and praised the club for what they have accomplished so far this season.

‘I don’t know where to begin, it’s just amazing what this team is doing, it’s just amazing to be a part of this team. I mean it’s not just me to deserve this [award], it’s the whole team,’ Sandilands told SuperSport TV post-game.

‘The effort from the top to the bottom – the coaches, the players, everybody. Orlando Pirates, this is the place to be, we just gotta continue, remain humble. We know that this is such a hard place to come.

‘Like I said, it’s just amazing what’s happening in the team right now, we can come here and get the three points.

‘Credit should go to our goalkeeper coach, we push each other in training, like I said, it’s a team effort. I’m just grateful for the three points today, hopefully, we can continue to push on. Very grateful.’

The post Sandilands: It’s amazing to be part of this Pirates team appeared first on SportsClub.

The Buccaneers welcomed the media to their training ground on Monday afternoon for the very first open day since the arrival of new coach Zinnbauer, presenting the opportunity to speak openly to the German coach.

NEXT MATCH
️ @Masandawana
15 January 2020
Orlando Stadium
19h30
@Shoprite_SA Checkers
@Computicket https://t.co/HY8HrkOknr
Remember #Buccaneers, Wednesday’s match tickets turn into @romans_pizza vouchers
#AbsaPrem #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/eilkNzeFK5

— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) January 13, 2020

The Sea Robbers have won two and drawn one of three matches under their new boss but will face the biggest test yet when they take on the defending champions on Wednesday evening.

Zinnbauer spoke on a wide range of topics, including the game against Downs, their intentions in the transfer market, transition at the club and his philosophies and hunger to win trophies.

A recap from this afternoon’s @orlandopirates media day. We spoke to Zinnbauer and a few of the players as they look ahead to the clash against @Masandawana #AbsaPrem pic.twitter.com/juL2QzBlHK

— Dean Workman (@DeanoWorks) January 13, 2020

The players also opened up on the impact of the new coach as well as the clash with Sundowns, saying they are focused on themselves and not doing rivals Kaizer Chiefs a favour.

Watch the full media session here:

The post Watch: Pirates camp looks ahead to Sundowns clash appeared first on SportsClub.