Watch VideoNkosinathi Sibisi targets MTN8 success as refreshed Orlando Pirates face Durban City

CAPTAIN fantastic: Siphamandla Ncanana of Durban City and Nkosinathi Sibisi of Orlando Pirates during 2026 MTN8 Launch at Supersport Studios on Wednesday. ORLANDOPirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisiis excited about the energy brought about by new signings at the club,which is on a mission to do no less than defendtheir treble this season. Pirates opened on a positive note,takingthree points from new boys Milford FC on the opening day, and they will be looking to go past Nedbank Cup championsDurban City in thequarter-finalsof the MTN8 atOrlando Stadiumon Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is at3pm. The Buccaneers will again be competing forevery piece of silverwareon offer this season,and that is reflected in the movesthey made in the transfer market withno fewer thaneight signings. These includeSebastian Pedersen from Norway, Mthetheleli Mthiyane and Sihle Nduli from Stellenbosch, Sbangani Zulu and Nkosikhona Ndaba from Richards Bay, Tshepo Mashiloane and Kabelo Kgositsile from Baroka, Bohlale Ngwato, and Ghampani Lungu.

“Yes,we havea lot of signings, a lot of young players. I think you can see the direction the team is going, trying to refresh the squad as much as possible,” reflected Sibisi during theMTN8 press conference ahead of the quarter-finals this weekend. “I think we need that energy going forward since there are many competitions that we are playing.

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I think we are playing five or six competitions this season.” There is no question that Pirates will be targeting both continentalglory in the Champions League and the domestic league title,which they will want to back upby defending their treble in the process —meaning they will be goingall out in the MTN8, one of the cups they won last season. “We will need everyone because in previous seasonswe’ve seen thatit is not the guys who start that finish the season. Sometimes it is the guys whostart in the standsthat finish the season.

So everyone is importantatthe club,” said the central defender. Squad management should be another priority at Pirates,consideringthat Sibisi led more than a handful of histeam-matesintoBafana Bafana’s World Cup squad that finished in theRound of 32last month. “It’sbeen a toughpre-season, a tough four weeks for us since comingbackfrom the World Cup.

Tough conditions against difficult opponents,” the skippersaid, reflectingon their promising recent pre-season tour of Spain. “But at the end of the day,the boysprepared themselves quite well for the new season, and whatbetterwayto start thanwith three pointsathome.”

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