JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 02: Thembinkosi Lorch and Vincent Pule of Orlando Pirates during the CAF Champions League match between Orlando Pirates and Esperance at Orlando Stadium on February 02, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Orlando Pirates: The five most expensive Buccaneers players
Orlando Pirates sport one of the best squads in South African football and here we look at the individuals with the highest valuation.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 02: Thembinkosi Lorch and Vincent Pule of Orlando Pirates during the CAF Champions League match between Orlando Pirates and Esperance at Orlando Stadium on February 02, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Josef Zinnbauer has set Orlando Pirates back on the path to the top but has done so with the same squad that Rhulani Mokwena directed.
It is quite clear that there are some extraordinary talents in the Buccaneers camp and here we look at the five most expensive players in their group as estimated by Transfermarkt.
Star striker and golden boot frontrunner Gabadinho Mhango just misses out on the top five despite a surge in the value of the Malawi international.
Orlando Pirates five most expensive players
5 – Siphesihle Ndlovu – midfielder: R13 million
Siphesihle Ndlovu joined Orlando Pirates from Maritzburg United at the outset of the season for a fee beleived to be in the region of R13.5 million.
He has yet to entirely settle at the club but remains among the top five most expensive players based off his most recent valuation.
The diminutive playmaker from Pietermaritzburg has played just nine PSL matches this term but played 82 minutes against Black Leopards and could feature in Zinnbauers plans before the end of the season.
4 Fortune Makaringe – Midfielder: R13.7 million
The attacking midfielder joined Pirates as the Sea Robbers made a double raid of the Team of Choice in the off season. Pirates spent more than R25 million bring Fortune Makaringe and Ndlovu to Soweto.
Makaringe has settled far better than Ndlovu though and has made 18 league appearances establishing himself as a regular under Mokwena and then Zinnbauer.
His value, according to independent estimates, has only increased since joining Pirates and his career seems to be on the up.
3 – Vincent Pule – winger – R14.5 million
Winger Vincent Pule remains one of the most highly rated players on Orlando Pirates’ books.
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Pule made his name at Bidvest Wits but appears set to commit his best years to the Buccaneers provided Europe does not come calling.
He has played for Bafana Bafana just twice but is a creative force for Pirates, and it would take a fat packet to spring him from Orlando Stadium.
2 – Innocent Maela – fullback – R16 million
Perhaps the most prized fullback in South African football his stock has risen tremendously since he joined the club in 2017 having cut his teeth in the NFD.
Maela should also be a big part of Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki’s plans to reach major tournaments in the next few years.
1 Thembinkosi Lorch – Winger/attacker/forward – R16 million
Arguably Orlando Pirates hottest commodity, Thembinkosi Lorch appeared to have punched his ticket to Europe with his stunning Afcon goal against Europe.
Pirates were able to keep hold of him for another season, but it seems only a matter of time before the star man makes a big move.
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