Orlando Pirates defender Tapelo Xoki has provided insight into the relentless competition for places within the Buccaneers’ camp, stating that the club’s investment in playing personnel is the driving force behind their current success.
Pirates have one of the best squads in the Betway Premiership currently after going guns blazing in the past two transfer windows to sign quality players. The qualitative depth at Pirates has benefited the team after winning two domestic trophies, the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup, in the first round of the 2025/26 season. They also clinched the Carling Cup.
In the current campaign, the Sea Robbers are also making a serious push to clinch the league title and dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns, who have dominated the Premiership for the past eight seasons.
Pirates are sitting at the summit of the league table after accumulating 35 points in 15 matches, having won 11 games, drawn two, and suffered two defeats.
The Buccaneers have been one of the toughest teams to beat in the PSL this season following the signing of big-name players such as Sipho Mbule, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, and Sihle Nduli.
In the 2026 January transfer window, Pirates further beefed up their squad with the acquisition of Andre de Jong, Mpho Chabatsane, and Daniel Msendami.
WHAT TAPELO XOKI SAID ABOUT PIRATES’ DEPTH
Meanwhile, the depth at Pirates has seen tough competition for places in the starting line-up, and the experienced defender, Xoki, has spoken out on the competition, stating that it’s good for the club.
The former AmaZulu FC defender is competing with Nkosinathi Sibisi, Lebone Seema, Thabiso Sesane, and Mpho Chabatsane for the centre-back position.
“The club has invested a lot in playing personnel, and they’ve given the group depth. So that helps us when one is one, another one can come and still do the job,” Xoki said at the Nedbank Cup Last 16 draw in Randburg.
“For us, it’s the testament of how the club has evolved over the years, the success we had is never enough, we still have a lot of ambitions as a club. Also, to have young players carrying the club as young as they are, that also helps the team.
“The new players have also settled in well and early, which also helps, as much as the club can invest in a lot of personnel, it’s never easy to settle in. Luckily for us, we had players that settled in early, and that has propelled us to have the success we had so far. We are looking to finish the season strong.”
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