Orlando Pirates send young players out on loan after DDC title success

Orlando Pirates have opened the door to first-team football for a number of their promising young players by sending them to clubs in the Premier Soccer League and Motsepe Foundation Championship for the 2025/26 season.

The move is designed to help the players gain regular senior experience away from the club’s DStv Diski Challenge set-up, after Pirates’ DDC side secured the 2025/26 league title.

Several members of that successful squad impressed during the campaign and have now been given the opportunity to continue their development against more experienced opponents.

Pirates have also already promoted Cristian Derbyshire, Simphiwe Masilela and supporters’ favourite Mpho Padime from the DDC team into their senior squad.

Among those leaving on loan is defender Jabulani Mokone, who will join Motsepe Foundation Championship side Midlands Wanderers. Goalkeeper Bayanda Zulu will also spend the season with the same club as both players begin their next stage of professional development.

Thuso Sesipi and Tshepo Mhlambi have moved to fellow National First Division side Leicesterford City on loan. Lebo Mohlala and Oratile Rantasi will likewise continue their development at Orbit College FC.

Moses Mphekgoane has joined newly established Motsepe Foundation Championship club Hope FC on loan, while Seth Green has completed a permanent transfer to Betway Premiership side Durban City.

The changes represent a significant step for the players, who will now be expected to compete for places and regular football in a senior professional environment.

For Pirates, the loan programme offers a route for the club’s young talent to gain experience while remaining part of a wider development plan. The players will be able to test themselves against older and more experienced opponents, something they cannot replicate fully at DDC level.

The club’s approach follows the strong performance of its youth side in the league and gives the standout players an opportunity to progress rather than remain in the same competition.

The loans should also help Pirates assess how the players respond to the demands of professional football before they potentially return to challenge for places in the first team.

While Derbyshire, Masilela and Padime have already made that move into the senior group, Mokone, Zulu, Sesipi, Mhlambi, Mohlala, Rantasi and Mphekgoane will now look to establish themselves through regular football elsewhere.

Green, meanwhile, has left the club on a permanent basis after securing his move to Durban City.

Pirates’ decisions underline the club’s intention to combine youth development with competitive first-team opportunities, using the success of their title-winning DDC squad as a platform for the next stage of the players’ careers.