Orlando Pirates Enhance Squad with Triple Signing and Defensive Overhaul

Orlando Pirates have moved early and decisively ahead of the 2026/27 season, sealing three new signings while confirming a reshaped defensive department through a mix of loans and permanent exits.

The Buccaneers have brought in Neo Rapoo, Aphiwe Baliti and Matome Mmolai, a trio that speaks directly to the club’s long-term strategy: younger, energetic, technically polished, and with room to grow.

Rapoo: Modern full-back for a modern Pirates

Neo Rapoo arrives from Siwelele FC and immediately fits the profile of the contemporary full-back Pirates have been leaning towards in recent years.

At 20, the left-back already carries the stamp of a strong footballing education. He came through SuperSport United’s development structures and has represented South Africa at youth international level, a clear indication of his pedigree.

Rapoo is not just a stopper on the flank. He drives forward, links play, and has the engine to patrol the entire left side. Comfortable both defending and pushing into advanced areas, he offers energy and technical quality that should mesh well with Pirates’ attacking patterns. The potential is obvious; the question now is how quickly he adapts to the demands and scrutiny that come with the black-and-white shirt.

Baliti: Versatility parked, for now, back at Siwelele

Alongside Rapoo, Pirates have also secured the services of another Siwelele FC defender, 24-year-old Aphiwe Baliti.

Nominally a left-back, Baliti’s value lies in his flexibility. He can operate on either side of the defence, a rare and prized trait in a long domestic season where injuries, suspensions and rotation test every squad’s depth. Add to that his experience in the top flight, and it is easy to see why Pirates moved for him.

But the club is in no rush to throw him straight into the fray. Baliti will return to Siwelele on a season-long loan for the 2026/27 campaign. It is a calculated move: he continues to play regular first-team football, sharpens his game further, and returns to Pirates better equipped to challenge for a starting berth rather than simply make up the numbers.

Mmolai strengthens the engine room

The third arrival, central midfielder Matome Mmolai from Leicesterford City, plugs directly into the heart of the side.

At 23, Mmolai already looks like the kind of midfielder who can knit together different phases of play. Energetic and technically sound, he is comfortable on the ball and able to contribute both in build-up and in transition. That blend of work-rate and composure is precisely what coaches crave in the middle of the park.

His signing deepens Pirates’ midfield options ahead of the new campaign, giving the technical team another profile to work with as they juggle domestic commitments and the physical toll of a long season.

Departures: a defensive door swings both ways

While new faces arrive, others move on. Pirates have confirmed that Gomolemo Khoto and Siyabonga Ndlozi have completed permanent transfers to Sekhukhune United, a significant double deal that underlines the changing shape of the squad.

Right-back Tshepho Mashiloane will also head back to Babina Noko on a season-long loan, another defender seeking regular minutes and a platform to refine his game away from the intense competition for places at Pirates.

Three in, three out. Youth, versatility, and technical polish coming through the door, experience and developing talent heading elsewhere for opportunity. It is a bold recalibration.

Whether this new core can carry Pirates where they want to go will be answered on the pitch, not on the transfer sheet.