PSL side to rescue Orlando Pirates outcast! 

An Orlando Pirates star could find himself a new home, after uncertainty during the 2023/24 season. 

Pirates sent defender Bongani Sam on loan to fellow Soweto giants Moroka Swallows at the start of the season.

Sam was one of the players have Swallows released during the January transfer window. The bulk of the Swallows squad went on strike in December, an act that has since cost them their jobs. This strike saw the Swallows players withdraw from their last two games of 2023, which proved costly to the club. The PSL ended up fining the Dube Birds a cool R1 million for failing to honour those fixtures. They did, however, receive the leniency of having R600 000 of it suspended. With the club already cash-strapped, that was a sanction they could ill afford. They then also decided to take action on the players who had decided against playing, effectively firing them. Furthermore, the league granted three points to both of their opponents, Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows.

The players had decided to boycott those two games, as they had not been paid their salaries. After a process of internal disciplinary hearings, a list of 22 players who had been dismissed by Swallows started making the rounds. The list featured some notable names such as Daniel Akpeyi, Sam, Ntsako Makhubela and Dumisani Zuma. Akpeyi has since returned, while Sam and Makhubela are still looking to resolve their futures.

Last month this publication reported that Sam was not at Pirates or Swallows but was training alone. Now according to Soccer-Laduma, SuperSport United could offer him a way out next season. 

SuperSport to sign Sam from Pirates?

“It has not been easy for him (Sam) since December but now there is light at the end of the tunnel as SuperSport are monitoring him. The team wants a cover up on their left back as they now have two defenders on that position, Onismor Bhasera and Ronald Pfumbidzai, so they want a third one as Bhasera in the twilight zone of his career. But they are still monitoring him for now. You remember when Thatoyaone (Dithlokwe) joined Chiefs? Pirates were also interested in him, and Bongani Sam was supposed to be part of the deal but it didn’t happen and he went on loan to Maritzburg United. But now since there is the chance of him being a free agent at the end of the season, he could join SuperSport. But as I have said they are monitoring him for now,” Said the source. 

It now remains to be seen if Sam will leave Pirates for SuperSport at the end of the season.