Ex-Orlando Pirates attacker Lebohang Mokoena has urged his former side to break the bank and sign Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile.
The Pirates’ striking department has come under the microscope in the past few weeks, with the club creating a handful of big scoring chances but struggling to convert them into goals.
Pirates have Evidence Makgopa, Yanela Mbuthuma, and Boitumelo Radiopane as traditional strikers competing for a place in the starting line-up. In the current Betway Premiership season, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has relied on Makgopa and Mbuthuma to share the scoring responsibilities as they look to challenge for the league title.
The two forwards have struggled to find the back of the net regularly. Mbuthuma has scored four goals in league matches since joining the Sea Robbers in July 2025 from Richards Bay FC, while Makgopa netted five goals in 18 Premiership appearances.
Meanwhile, Radiopane has had challenges with persistent injuries at Pirates, limiting his contribution on the pitch. The 23-year-old forward has featured in four appearances across all competitions, and he’s yet to open his scoring account for the season.
Interestingly, Pirates decided to loan out their proven goal-scorer, Tshegofatso Mabasa, to Stellenbosch FC during the 2026 January transfer window. The former Bloemfontein Celtic goal poacher scored a brace this past weekend for Stellenbosch against Chippa United to take his tally at the club to three goals.
‘Sniper,’ as he’s affectionately known, has been Pirates’ top goal scorer for the past two seasons; however, he was seemingly not in the plans of head coach Ouaddou. Pirates also loaned out promising striker Sifiso Lithuli to Magesi FC for the remainder of the campaign.
MOKOENA ADVISES PIRATES TO SIGN PETER SHALULILE
With the Buccaneers creating chances but seemingly lacking firepower in the final third, Cheeseboy Mokoena has advised Pirates to sign Shalulile from Sundowns.
The Namibian talisman was close to leaving Masandawana at the start of last season to join Tunisian giants Esperance, but the move fell through. In addition, Shalulile has recently been linked with a move to Al-Ittihad in Libya to reunite with his former coach at Sundowns, Rulani Mokwena.
“There are a lot of options [in the market for a striker]. If we have to break the bank, let Peter come in to share the experience of winning the league,” Mokoena said on Soccer Beat.
“You need those kinds of players because they bring that [positive] energy around the team, because they know what it takes to win. So for me, if Rulani takes him, it’s good, but first option I would say, Peter come to Orlando, we need someone to finish there.”
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