The intermediary for midfielder Thalente Mbatha has confirmed that he will remain at Orlando Pirates for the 2024-25 season having impressed during a six-month loan spell at the club in the previous campaign.
Mike Makaab posted on social media platform X that the player was to extend his stay with The Buccaneers, who could need their full squad with the CAF Champions League qualification secured again.
“He will stay at Pirates,” Makaab replied to a question on whether the 24-year-old would return to SuperSport United in the coming season.
Mbatha first played in the DStv Premiership for Highlands Park in the 2019/20 season before joining SuperSport for the following campaign.
But he was barely used by Matsatsantsa, making only 16 starts in two-and-a-half seasons at the club, before a loan move to Pirates in January.
He became an instant regular with The Buccaneers ad started 12 games as he helped them to second place in the league and to the Nedbank Cup title.
Pirates have also signed 19-year-old goalkeeper Bayanda Thabethe from the Midlands Academy in KwaZulu-Natal. He is likely to start in the club’s DStv Diski Challenge team.