Pirates poised for further squad shake-up as Spain tour ends

Orlando Pirates are expected to make a series of key squad calls in the coming days, with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou likely to trim his group once the club’s pre-season tour of Spain comes to an end.

The Buccaneers have spent the camp working with a travelling party of more than 30 players, giving Ouaddou an extended look at his options ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. The group has included a blend of senior figures, recent recruits and youngsters recently promoted from within the club’s structures.

Among the emerging players taken on tour are Mpho Padime and Christian Derbyshire, who have stepped up from the youth ranks, while new signings Neo Rapoo, Matome Mmolai, Mthetheleli Mthiyane, Sbangani Zulu, Bohlale Ngwato and Ghampani Lungu have also been integrated. The camp in Spain has been viewed internally as an important audition for all of them as they push for first-team opportunities.

Departures reshape the squad

Pirates have already undergone significant change during the current transfer window, parting company with a number of members of last season’s squad, and further movement is anticipated before the window closes.

The club has allowed Thabiso Sesane and Selaelo Rasebotja to join Siwelele FC, while Siyabonga Ndlozi, Thabiso Lebitso, Bandile Shandu, Sipho Mbule and Tshegofatso Mabasa have also left. In one of the window’s standout deals, Pirates sanctioned the high-profile transfer of Relebohile Mofokeng to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Despite those exits, the touring group in Spain remains sizeable, and there is a growing expectation around the club that the squad will be streamlined again in the coming weeks as Ouaddou narrows down his core group.

Ouaddou’s preference for a lean squad

Ouaddou has previously been open about his belief that working with a smaller squad is more effective. Speaking last season, the Moroccan coach outlined the difficulties of handling an overly large group, highlighting the impact it can have on the standard of training sessions and on keeping every player fully engaged.

Sources close to Pirates indicate that his outlook is unchanged. Ouaddou is still understood to favour a compact squad that, in his view, allows for more targeted training, clearer tactical work and more manageable squad dynamics.

With that in mind, insiders suggest that several players currently on the fringes could be earmarked for loan spells. Such moves would be designed to ensure they continue their development with regular game time, while allowing Pirates to maintain a more streamlined and competitive first-team unit.

Crucial decisions as season nears

As the Spanish tour nears its conclusion and the new season edges closer, activity behind the scenes at Pirates is expected to intensify. The technical team is set to use the final days of the camp, and the performances witnessed over the past weeks, to finalise their plans.

Some younger players are believed to have enhanced their standing during the tour, potentially moving closer to regular inclusion in Ouaddou’s matchday squads. Others, however, appear more likely to continue their progress away from the club, at least in the short term, as Pirates seek to settle on a group the head coach feels can compete strongly on all fronts in the upcoming campaign.