Sipho Mbule’s former youth coach, Pitso Mokoena, has pinpointed the factors he believes are driving the midfielder’s resurgent, consistently good form since joining Orlando Pirates.
‘MasterChef,’ as Mbule is popularly known, joined the Buccaneers ahead of the start of the 2025/26 season.
The 27-year-old signed for the Soweto giants on a free transfer after cutting ties with Mamelodi Sundowns as his contract at the club had expired. Mbule spent the last campaign on loan at Sekhukhune United from Masandawana. At Babina Noko, he showed glimpses of getting his mojo back until his off-field problems emerged again.
As a result, Sundowns allegedly decided against utilising the two-year extension clause in Mbule’s contract because of worries regarding his conduct and off-field issues.
Currently, Mbule has featured in 15 matches across all competitions for the Sea Robbers. His satisfying performances at Pirates earned him his way back to the Bafana Bafana set up under the tutelage of Hugo Broos.
Mbule was recalled to the SA national team during the FIFA international break when Bafana locked horns with Lesotho and Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers in September 2025. This came after Patrick Maswanganyi’s withdrawal from the Bafana squad due to an injury.
‘MasterChef’ was also called up to the national team when Bafana played against Zimbabwe and Rwanda in the World Cup qualifiers and also in the recent international friendly game with Zambia.
PITSO MOKOENA SINGLES OUT A FACTOR THAT HELPED SIPHO MBULE REGAIN HIS MOJO BACK
Mokoena believes the culture and structure at Pirates have been conducive to Mbule finding his best form, highlighting regular playing minutes as important to his impressive displays this season.
“I think he’s happy. I don’t know what Pirates did to Sipho Mbule, but the way I’m seeing Sipho now, he was not like that at Sundowns, Sekhukhune, or SuperSport [United]. He’s happy and in a jubilant mood, making jokes,” said Mokoena in an exclusive interview with FARPost.
“The body language shows that the boy is happy. We never saw him laughing like this at his previous three teams. There’s only one thing that can make a player happy: when you have game time. The boy is getting playing time at Pirates, and I think that’s why he is happy.”
In addition, Mbule has made the cut to Bafana’s preliminary squad for the upcoming AFCON tournament, which is due to be held in Morocco from 21 December 2025.
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