REVEALED | Did Orlando Pirates hijack SuperSport United for latest signing? 

Orlando Pirates have signed a fifth player during this window, but did they do so at the expense of SuperSport United in another transfer saga? 

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Pirates have now signed goalkeeper Siphamandla Gumede, who joins the Buccaneers with the blessing of Dondol Stars! 

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Pirates have already announced the captures of stars Melusi Buthelezi, Sephelo Baloni, Katlego Otladisa and Patrick Maswanganyi. That means Gumede comes in as their fifth signing and also becomes the fifth goalkeeper in their first team books. But prior to joining the Buccaneers, the appeared to be multiple links with the player to SuperSport, a club the player was in the development structures of, before being let go a couple of years ago.

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A couple of weeks ago, this publication had already reported that Gumede had even joined up with Pirates in Rustenburg ahead of their departure to Spain. Then, it was thought that the move was a done deal, but it is clear there were still a few matters that still needed to be ironed out. Then last week the club chairman Lordwick Makhura also confirmed that they had released the player on a three-year contract, also expressing their pride at having one of their own ending up at one of the top clubs in the country. 

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Makhura then also addressed the rumours that Pirates stepped in last minute to sign Gumede from the clutches of DStv Premiership rivals SuperSport. 

Pirates did not hijack Gumede deal from SuperSport

“The thing the about SuperSport United (link), remember some journalists fabricate stories. Remember Sphamandla (Gumede) is from the academy of SuperSport but the only confirmation I got was from Orlando Pirates because they contacted us for his clearance and confirmed that they have given him a contract but with other teams I don’t know, it might have been hearsay.” Said Makhura to The Citizen

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Well, it seems as if SuperSport never made a formal approach for Gumede’s clearance to Dondol Stars and it was all Pirates! The 22-year-old is expected to be loaned out for the new season.