One last dance offered to Orlando Pirates veteran?
One last dance offered to Orlando Pirates veteran?
Orlando Pirates are believed to have handed a veteran midfield star a one-year extension to his contract for next season.
Pirates will continue to bolster their squad at the end of the season, while also releasing some deadwood.
One of the positions they could look to revamp could be midfield, where they’re already stacked. Pirates boast the likes of Thabang Monare, Miguel Timm and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo there. Furthermore, they have Siphelo Baloni, and Fortune Makaringe who have hardly had a look in this season. The overflowing midfield options, however, did not prevent them from dipping into the market to sign another player. They clinched the loan signing of former SuperSport United star Talent Mbatha.
That is bound to add further pressure and doubt in the minds of midfielders who were already down the pecking order. One of those players that was initially affected by that is 34-year-old star Makhehleni Makhaula. The veteran holding midfielder joined Pirates over a year ago, in a surprise deal from AmaZulu. He had been a bit part player at the Buccaneers, with rumours even suggesting he would be sold.
Makhaula now a Pirates regular
Since February, however, Makhaula has found himself being one of the first names on the Pirates team sheet. That has even seem him make take the place of Bafana Bafana star Monare, who is now primed for the exit door instead. Now in stark contrast, it is now the former Free State Stars man who is believed to be close to signing a new deal at the Buccaneers, according to Soccer-Laduma.
Set for Pirates extension
“As for Makhahleni (Makhaula) is as good as done. Everything has gone very well with the talks and he has been given another year. I think they (Pirates) took into consideration his age as well. But the good thing is that he has also been doing good for himself after returning from injury. He is in the staring line up for most of the games and the technical team believes in him. So, for now it’s a one-year extension for Makhaula,” said the source to the publication.
Makhaula has done an outstanding job to turn his fortunes around at Pirates. Their supporters will surely be welcoming these news.