Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule has officially found a new home after completing a move to Iraqi top-flight side Zakho FC.
The talented playmaker became a free agent after the Buccaneers decided not to activate the two-year extension option in his contract following the 2025/26 campaign.
The move offers Mbule a fresh opportunity to revive a career that has produced flashes of brilliance but has also been interrupted by inconsistent game time and off-field setbacks.
ZAKHO FC CONFIRM SIPHO MBULE ARRIVAL FROM ORLANDO PIRATES
Zakho FC announced the signing on social media, expressing excitement about adding the South African international to their squad for the 2026/27 Iraq Stars League season.
“South African player Sipho Mbule has officially signed with our club for the 2026–2027 season in the Iraqi Stars Football League,” the club announced.
“Sipho Mbule stands out for his impressive speed and intelligence, with the ability to dictate the flow of the game at will and dominate the midfield.
“With Sipho’s arrival, our midfield will be stronger than ever.”
Based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Zakho have become one of the country’s rising clubs after finishing third in the Iraq Stars League during the 2024/25 season. The club also reached the Iraq FA Cup final and plays its home matches at the 20,000-capacity Zakho International Stadium.
A FRESH START FOR MBULE
Nicknamed “The Master Chef”, Mbule burst onto the Betway Premiership scene at SuperSport United before earning a big-money move to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2022. However, regular opportunities proved difficult to come by, while a loan spell at Sekhukhune United also failed to reignite his career.
Orlando Pirates handed the midfielder another chance ahead of the 2025/26 season, signing him on a one-year deal.
The 27-year-old from Bethlehem, Free State, made 23 appearances across all competitions during the first half of the campaign and played his part as the Sea Robbers won a domestic treble. His performances also earned him a recall to Bafana Bafana for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, after returning from AFCON, Mbule slipped down the midfield pecking order and struggled for regular minutes. With Pirates deciding against extending his stay, the gifted midfielder now begins the next chapter of his career in Iraq, hoping regular football can help him rediscover the form that once made him one of South Africa’s brightest talents.
