Orlando Pirates are ready to add some experience to the left-hand side of their team. Will it pay off?
THREE-YEAR DEAL FOR HANAMUB?
Ironically, Riaan Hanamub’s career started at Orlando Pirates Windhoek before he got his first big break with Jomo Cosmos in South Africa. He also spent just under two years with Chippa. Including his stint with AmaZulu, Hanamub has appeared in 110 Dstv Premiership matches if you include two promotion-relegation playoff assignments with the Chilli Boys.
“He has been offered a three-year contract. That’s the initial one. They will discuss the other issues when he joins the team during the off-season. You know he is 29 years of age and by 2027 he will be 32 years and can still renew at that time. But that’s the offer to the player and the other issues are between club and club but the deal is as good as done at the star moment,” said a source to Soccer-Laduma.
Namibian veteran is an AmaZulu mainstay
Since signing for Usuthu in 2022 he has become a mainstay on their left-hand side, able to play as a full- back and in a more attacking role. He’s also a veteran of 29 caps for the national side and was at Afcon 2023 in Ivory Coast. However, at 29, is a three-year deal a bit too lengthy? Is he an immediate and automatic upgrade on the likes of Innocent Maela and Paseka Mako?
A defensive crisis looms for Mr Riveiro
Nkosinathi Sibisi missed Pirates’ 7-1 league win over Arrows after his dismissal against Swallows for dissent. Fellow central defender Tapelo Xoki picked up his fourth yellow card of the campaign against Arrows, meaning he’s ruled out against Usuthu in this weekend’s Nedbank Cup clash. Meanwhile, Nigerian star Olisa Ndah is nursing an injury so the defending champions look a little light in the heart of defence with all three unavailable against AmaZulu. Pirates might need to field a new partnership in defence with Sandile Mthethwa and Thabiso Sesane the most obvious options in that regard. Regular left-back and club captain Innocent Maela could also deputise. Plenty for Mr Riveiro to ponder at Moses Mabhida!
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