Orlando Pirates defender Jabulani Mokone set for Midlands Wanderers loan

Orlando Pirates right-back Jabulani Mokone has joined Midlands Wanderers’ pre-season training camp as he reportedly nears a season-long loan move to the Motsepe Foundation Championship club.

The 21-year-old was seen taking part in the KwaZulu-Natal side’s preparations in Mandeni on Monday, 6 July.

Local reports indicate that Mokone is expected to leave Pirates temporarily in search of regular first-team football. A move to Midlands Wanderers would give the defender another opportunity to gain experience in South Africa’s second tier.

Mokone arrives after an outstanding season with the Pirates reserve team. In May, he played a role in helping the Buccaneers win their first-ever DStv Diski Challenge title.

Pirates secured the championship with a 2-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto. The result completed a dominant campaign for the reserve side, who finished top of the table with 75 points from 30 matches.

Mamelodi Sundowns, known as Bafana Ba Style, ended the season in second place on 69 points.

Mokone has also developed a strong following among Orlando Pirates supporters. He was selected for the first two Carling All-Star teams and won the competition on both occasions.

The Carling All-Stars defeated Stellenbosch FC in 2023 before overcoming Magesi FC in 2024.

The proposed move to Midlands Wanderers would not be Mokone’s first experience of the Motsepe Foundation Championship. He spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Upington City FC, where he continued his development away from Pirates.

Mokone was accompanied at Upington City by his Pirates DStv Diski Challenge team-mate Seth Green. While Mokone appears set to remain in the National First Division for another season, Green has since secured a permanent transfer to Betway Premiership club Durban City FC.

Midlands Wanderers are reshaping their squad after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. The KwaZulu-Natal club finished 14th in the standings, collecting 33 points from 30 matches.

Mokone is not the only player arriving at Midlands Wanderers from the Soweto-based club. The side have already completed moves for Orlando Pirates players Sonwabo Khumalo and Blessing Ngiba.

The additions are part of the club’s efforts to strengthen before the new campaign and prevent a repeat of last season’s difficult run.

For Pirates, Mokone’s potential loan would allow the defender to continue playing senior football while remaining under the ownership of the Soweto giants. His recent success with the reserve team, combined with his previous experience at Upington City FC, has made him one of the players being monitored as he works towards establishing himself in the Pirates first team.