Former Orlando Pirates winger Lebohang Mokoena has explained why he believes Golden Arrows superstar Siyanda Ndlovu would be a natural fit for the Sea Robbers, citing the player’s technical profile.
The 23-year-old winger, Ndlovu, previously with Happy Crown FC and Newcastle All Stars in the amateur ranks before rising through Golden Arrows’ DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] ranks, has been one of Arrows’ players to watch this season.
With three goals and five assists in 17 appearances across all competitions, the attacker from Dannhauser, KZN, also turned heads by winning the September/October Betway Premiership Player of the Month award.
With this rapid rise, both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are understood to be monitoring his progress. But according to former Pirates winger Mokoena, Ndlovu’s playing style makes him perfect for the Buccaneers’ way of playing.
“We love our wingers at Pirates,” Mokoena said on Soccer Beat podcast. “For me, Siyanda is just a typical Orlando Pirates winger. He has the versatility of an [Oswin] Appollis.
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The Pirates influence is unmistakable in Hugo Broos’ final 2025 AFCON selection, with a massive nine-man contingent forming the backbone of the Bafana Bafana squad. Anchoring the 25-man group for Morocco are Bucs stars Nkosinathi Sibisi, Sipho Chaine, Thalente Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi, Evidence Makgopa, Oswin Appollis and outgoing Bucs star Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
“There is [the 2025] AFCON and the [2026 FIFA] World Cup coming, and at Pirates we sell players. You never know what can happen during these tournaments in terms of losing players,” Mokoena continued.
“I also think Siyanda would fit in very well because of the type of football Pirates play. He has the speed going forward. We have a [Tshepang] Moremi doing that, we have an Appollis doing that, [Relebohile] Mofokeng is slowly picking up, and [Kamohelo] Sebelebele has been out.
“So it would be great for a player like him to join Pirates. He could also get himself into the Bafana Bafana team. He would fit in like a glove there, purely because of the type of player that he is.
“If you look at the style of Pirates, they are very quick on the counter. They like their wingers to take on defenders and press high. It will also depend on whether Pirates bring back [Monnapule] Saleng from loan,” Mokoena concluded.
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