Why Pirates Need New Signings In January Revealed?

Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Going into 2026 leading the Betway Premiership standings, do Orlando Pirates need new signings in January? Soccer Laduma unravels how Mamelodi Sundowns used the late transfer window to ward off challenges for the title race vs Pirates.

Pirates were still in the title race going into the festive break last season, as they were only six points behind Sundowns with two games in hand. But what proved decisive, was arguably not making any new signings in January.

Read: Zwane Backs Pirates To End Sundowns’ League Reign

In comparison, Masandawana made a number of key signings in January 2025, bringing on board Jayden Adams, Keanu Cupido, Lucas Suarez while Matias Esquivel’s loan came to an end, returning to his parent club.

The Tshwane giants did not rest on their laurels when it came to bolstering their squad and eventually they had enough depth to navigate past different competitions and were out of sight in the Betway Premiership with a few months remaining.

Pirates’ lack of depth was also compromised by them going as far as the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, where former coach Jose Riveiro would have felt let down by the management for not backing him up in the market.

The Soweto giants were active, however, in the January transfer window of 2023/24 season, with the signing of Thabiso Lebitso, Thalete Mbatha while Tshegofatso Mabasa returned on loan from Moroka Swallows.

Mbatha and Mabasa proved to be very key in Ezimnyama going on to win the Nedbank Cup and pushing the title race as far as they could but Sundowns were strong again, having made superior signings in the same period, after acquiring Thembinkosi Lorch, Tashreeq Matthews, Esquivel and Zuko Mdunyelwa.

Read: Zwane: Why Ntsabeleng Is Yet To Shine At Sundowns

The Buccaneers made five new additions in the January transfer window of the 2022/23 campaign, after Craig Martin, Marou Souaibou, Makhehlene Makhaula and Ndumiso Mabena joined the club.

However, the unpredictable nature of football showed, as that was not enough for Ezimnyama to dislodge Sundowns for the title, who did not make any January signings during the same period, as also the squad did not have enough experience in Riveiro’s first season.

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