Orlando Pirates Strengthen Squad with Key Signings and Departures

Orlando Pirates have moved early and decisively ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, sealing a trio of signings that underline a clear strategy: get younger, get quicker, and lock in high-upside South African talent.

The Buccaneers have brought in defender Neo Rapoo, fellow full-back Aphiwe Baliti and central midfielder Matome Mmolai, while confirming the departures of Gomolemo Khoto and Siyabonga Ndlozi to Sekhukhune United and a loan move for right-back Tshepho Mashiloane.

This is not a window built on marquee headlines. It’s one built on profile, potential and balance.

Rapoo: Modern full-back for a modern Pirates

At 20, Neo Rapoo arrives from Siwelele FC with the kind of pedigree that grabs the attention of any technical team paying close attention to development pathways.

A product of SuperSport United’s youth structures and already capped at South Africa youth international level, Rapoo fits the template of the modern full-back. He defends with discipline, yet thrives when the pitch opens up in front of him. Comfortable driving into advanced areas, he offers energy on the overlap, quality on the ball and the promise of a long runway for growth.

For Pirates, who have often leaned on experience in wide defensive areas, this is a calculated injection of youth. Rapoo doesn’t just pad out the squad; he gives the coaching staff a different gear on the left flank, one that can stretch games and change the tempo in an instant.

Baliti: Versatility now, experience later

Also crossing from Siwelele is 24-year-old defender Aphiwe Baliti, though his path takes a slightly different route.

Primarily a left-back but comfortable operating on either side of the defence, Baliti brings something coaches crave: genuine versatility. He has already logged minutes in the domestic top-flight, knows the intensity of the league, and carries the kind of athletic profile that allows him to plug multiple gaps across the back line.

Pirates have moved to secure his long-term services, but the plan is clear. 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 rather than fighting for scraps of game time.

It’s a long view. Pirates bank the player now, let him sharpen his game in familiar surroundings, and expect a more polished, battle-tested full-back to report for duty a year down the line.

Mmolai: Engine and craft in the middle

Completing the incoming trio is central midfielder Matome Mmolai, signed from Leicesterford City.

At 23, Mmolai walks into a key area of the pitch with a profile that should appeal to any side looking to dominate possession and control transitions. He is energetic, technically assured and comfortable receiving the ball in tight pockets, then moving it with purpose.

Mmolai can contribute in different phases of play: dropping deep to help build from the back, linking with the forwards, and covering ground when the ball is lost. For a Pirates midfield that will be asked to dictate games over a long season, his arrival adds depth, legs and a cleaner passing option between the lines.

This is a signing that speaks to balance. Not just another runner. Not just another passer. A midfielder who can stitch those roles together.

Departures reshape the defensive picture

While the focus falls naturally on the new faces, the exits are just as telling.

Gomolemo Khoto and Siyabonga Ndlozi have both completed permanent transfers to Sekhukhune United, a move that trims the numbers and opens space for the new recruits to stake their claims. For the players, it’s a chance to establish themselves as regulars in a growing PSL outfit; for Pirates, it’s a clean break that signals a refreshed defensive cycle.

Right-back Tshepho Mashiloane also returns to Babina Noko on a season-long loan. That decision keeps his development on an upward curve, with the expectation that consistent minutes will harden his game and clarify whether he can eventually anchor a flank for Pirates.

The picture is clear. Orlando Pirates are not just collecting players; they are structuring a squad, layering potential beneath established names and setting up internal competition across the pitch.

When the 2026/27 season kicks off, the real question will be how quickly Rapoo, Mmolai and, in time, Baliti can turn that potential into influence on the field.