Orlando Pirates Transfers: New winger and defender  

Orlando Pirates are reportedly set to introduce two new youngsters.

MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI AND NEO MOKOENA FOR ORLANDO PIRATES FIRST TEAM

According to Soccer Laduma, the 19-year-old winger Neo Mokoena has caught the eye of Sea Robbers coach Jose Riveiro and is set to make the upstep from the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team to the senior side. He will join his fellow reserve side teammate Mbokazi (19), who has been training with the first team since the start of the season. “He [Mokoena] is a winger. A very good winger. I think they are doing it for this season,” a source told the outlet.

“They are looking beyond this season already. You know this is how they did with Mohau Nkota. They promoted him and he had been training with the first team until this season. Now it’s Neo (Mokoena) as well as defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi who is training with the first team. Both have been impressive and it’s apparently believed that the coach and the technical team are happy with their progress,” the source added.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS CONFIRMED

In the meantime, Orlando Pirates have confirmed they will face Algerian giants MC Alger.

Full Statement: “Orlando Pirates will resume their CAF Champions League campaign with a return to Algeria after they were pitted against 1976 champions MC Alger in the live quarter-final draw held on Thursday. The winner of the two-legged tie will contest the semifinals against the triumphant side in the clash between Egyptian outfit Pyramids and AS FAR of Morocco.

“The knockout phase of Africa’s flagship club competition is scheduled to kick off in early April, with the eight remaining teams vying for the four semifinal spots. All four match-ups in the last eight were determined in the live draw held in Doha on Thursday, with all teams present discovering their route to continental glory.

“First up for the Buccaneers in the next round is a return to the Land of the Martyrs, where they kicked off their group stage campaign with a win against their next opponents’ domestic rivals, CR Belouizdad. The first leg of the tie will be hosted in the North African nation a week before the deciding leg at Orlando Stadium. It will be a historic first meeting between the two sides, who both made history by becoming the first teams from their respective countries to claim the coveted piece of silverware.

“Affectionately known as “The Doyen”, the Algerians are making their third appearance in the quarter-finals while competing in the illustrious competition for the ninth time. They will be looking to reach the heights of their debut appearance, where they went all the way to be crowned champions.

“For the Buccaneers, this will be a return to the knockout stages having last featured in 2013 when they eventually fell on the final hurdle. Jose Riveiro’s troops will be looking to take another step towards clinching their second title, adding to their 1995 crown. To achieve that, they will have to tap into their pool stage form, following an impressive showing where they finished as one of two teams to navigate their entirety of the previous round still unbeaten. 

“It’s unlikely to be a cakewalk however, as they face off against a side that boasted the best defensive record across all four groups while also maintaining consistency in their domestic league, where they currently hold top spot.

“The highly-anticipated quarter-finals kick off on 1 April, with the decisive second-leg fixtures getting underway seven days later. CAF will announce the individual fixture dates and kick-off times in due course.”