Pirates supporters may be welcoming a new attacking midfielder/winger in Siyanda Ndlovu (aged 22) and a central midfielder/winger in Ayabulela Maxwele (aged 25).
The Golden Arrows duo have been regulars under coach Manqoba Mngqithi this season. Ndlovu has played 25 times with four goals and seven assists. His teammate Maxwele has earned 26 appearances, including three goals and two assists.
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS ON SIYANDA NDLOVU AND AYABULELA MAXWELE TO ORLANDO PIRATES
According to Soccer Beat, as shared by Joshua Hendricks on X, the Buccaneers have opened talks to sign the duo from Abafana Bes’thende.
“We have been told that Orlando Pirates are in advanced talks with Golden Arrows duo Ayabulela Maxwele and Siyanda Ndlovu,” Soccer Beat host Kurt Buckerfield said on the podcast.
To the delight of Pirates fans, the podcast’s analyst Grant De Smidt said that Ndlovu would be a perfect fit for the club as he is a high-chance creator. He sits at the top of the charts along side Pirates duo Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis.
“He is good at finding teammates around the box, he can dribble, he is right up there on the dribble charts,” De Smidt said.
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On Maxwele, De Smidt said “He is a unique player, he is kind of an eight and half winger. He is a very intnse player. Does a lot of running and wins duels. He offers lots of successful dribbles and is good at pressing, and we know [Abdeslam] Ouaddou likes that.”
WHO IS SIYANDA NDLOVU?
Ndlovu, affectionnately known as “Skwishi,” was born on 19 September 2002 in Dannhauser, KwaZulu Natal. Before graduating from the club’s DStv Diski Challange reserve team, Ndlovu played for Happy Crown, and Newcastle All Stars in the third division ABC Motsepe League.
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WHO IS AYABULELA MAXWELE?
Born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape on 28 June 2000, “Aya” first emerged as a junior player at Mamelodi Sundowns. Maxwele later played for Maritzburg United (later renamed Durban City), Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Royal AM.
Should the duo complete their moves to Pirates, they will compete with Bafana Bafana internationals such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Sipho Mbule, Patrick Maswanganyi and Tshepang Moremi.
With Mofokeng and Appollis linked with moves abroad, perhaps the Buccaneers are targetting Nldovu and Maxwele as replacements.
ESTABLISHED BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
Pirates and Arrows have built a strong working relationship in recent years, with the Buccaneers signing several Abafana Bes’thende stars who have gone on to enjoy success in Soweto. The list includes Thamsanqa Gabuza, Siyabonga Sangweni, and Nkosinathi Sibisi.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIRATES TARGETING NLDOVU AND MAXWELE?
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