Sam: Another Orlando Pirates player heading to Chippa United?

Chippa United have emerged as hot favourites to land another Orlando Pirates defender Bongani Sam’s signature, with reports that he is heading to Gqeberha.

Sam was on loan at Swallows FC from Pirates in the 2022/23 DStv Premiership campaign and he is now set to be dispatched on another loan stint o Chippa.

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New information surrounding his future indicates that Sam will not return to Pirates and play under coach Jose Riveiro but he could join Chippa in his hometown, Gqeberha.

PIRATES DEFENDER TO JOIN CHIPPA ON ANOTHER LOAN STINT?

Formerly on the books of Bloemfontein Celtic before completing his move to Pirates in 2019, Sam has struggled for regular game time at the start-studded Pirates.

As he battled it out with experienced left-backs such as skipper Innocent Maela and Paseka Mako, the 25-year-old Sam has been loaned out on two occasions and rumours suggest he is heading to Chippa for another loan deal.

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He initially spent the first six months of the past campaign at the relegated Maritzburg United from Pirates before joining the Soweto-based Swallows as they looked to rescue their top-flight status.

Under former Pirates midfielder and coach Musa Nyatama, Sam found his form in the 10 games he played for the Dube Birds, and as per the norm, he was expected to return to Pirates to be assessed by coach Riveiro during pre-season.

However, it seems he will play his football in the Eastern Cape at Chippa next season if the media reports are anything to go by.

“It’s emerged that Gqeberha is his likely destination, with coach Morgan Mammila, who worked alongside Nyatama at Swallows last season, keen to add him to his squad for the upcoming campaign,” reports SABC Sport.

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“With the transfer window running from Saturday, 1 July until 31 August, there are still a few more weeks to make a call on where exactly Sam will play next season.”

ORLANDO PIRATES’ RELATIONSHIP WITH CHIPPA UNITED

The Buccaneers, Pirates have a well-documented relationship with the management of the trigger-happy Chippa as they have exchanged players in the past few seasons.

Just this week, Pirates announced the departure of defender and winger Craig Martin who has since found a football home in Gqeberha with Chippa.

Martin moved from Cape Town City to Pirates during the January transfer window but he failed to break into the first team and has joined Chippa on a two-year deal leaving many shocked.

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At the same time, the 1995 CAF African Champions League champions also parted ways with seasoned striker Ndumiso Mabena, forward Ntsako Makhubela, goalkeeper Kopano Thuntsane, as well as midfielder former Stellenbosch FC star Nkanyiso Zungu. 

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