Orlando Pirates seal R11 Million marquee deal
Orlando Pirates have snapped up the signing of Angolan winger Gilberto Delvi Miguel Vieira on a three-year contract, it has been confirmed.
Pirates announce Gilberto
Orlando Pirates have sealed a $600k (R11 million) deal for 23-year-old Angolan winger Delvi Miguel Vieira. He’s also known as Gilberto. He signs from Petro de Luanda after impressing in the CAF Champions League.
All you need to know about Gilberto
The Sea Robbers have officially sealed a deal for Petro Luanda’s Gilberto (Deivi Miguel Vieira) after he passed his medical. The 23-year-old Petro Luanda star operates predominantly on the right wing and has seven caps for Angola to go with his two international goals. He bagged two assists from nine appearances in last season’s CAF Champions League and Pirates are understandably keen to add a player with experience in that continental competition. They’ll square off against Africa’s finest in 2024-2025. He’ll join up with the squad for their European tour of Germany and Spain in July.
Gilberto will officially become a Buccaneer once he passes a medical. Image: Petro de Luanca
What are the implications for Saleng?
26-year-old Monnapule Saleng’s future is up in the air. The Bafana man enjoyed a late-season renaissance, winning his place back in the starting XI after struggling for form over the majority of the campaign. All of this after he sparkled in 2022-2023, hitting 15 goals and 11 assists in 30 matches across all competitions. Those stats saw him crowned PSL Player of the Season. With the arrival of Gilberto, Saleng now has direct competition for his place. It’ll either get the best out of him, or the Bucs board will see this as the perfect time to sell Saleng to the highest bidder.
The technical team gets beefed up
Performance analyst Devon O’Brien will join Orlando Pirates from Stellenbosch imminently after just over a year with the impressive and improving Winelands outfit. Stellenbosch finished the last campaign in third place in the league, a single point behind Pirates. They also claimed their first-ever piece of silverware, winning the Carling Knockout. O’Brien was instrumental in this. O’Brien will link up with the Buccaneers before they tour Europe. They face Sevilla, Plymouth Argyle and Al Sadd between 8 and 20 July.
Are you excited about Pirates’ new man? Can he fire this team to the title next season? Let us know your feelings in the comments below.