Orlando Pirates are midway through the 2025/26 season, and it’s time to hand out the report cards.
This feature looks at how the club’s 12 new signings have fared so far, moving from defence all the way through to attack.
Second on the list, after Lebone Seema, is the central midfield general Sihle Nduli.
He is a player who arrived with plenty of questions surrounding his place in the Buccaneers squad, and answered every single one.
SIHLE NDULI FROM STELLENBOSCH FC TO ORLANDO PIRATES
Born in Endwebu, KwaZulu–Natal, the 30-year-old joined the Sea Robbers after a solid spell at Stellenbosch FC, where he made 104 appearances, scoring three goals and setting up four more.
Earlier, Nduli made 43 appearances under his belt for TS Galaxy.
When the move to Orlando Pirates was announced, many thought it was a gamble. The club’s midfield was already crowded with talent, and critics wondered if Nduli could get consistent minutes.
He wasted no time proving them wrong. From pre-season in Spain, Nduli showed he belonged. Calm on the ball and crunching in the tackle, he quickly became the engine driving the team from midfield.
NO MAKHEHLENE MAKHAULA, NO PROBLEM
The early part of the season saw Nduli feature in 17 of Pirates’ first 20 matches across competitions. His intelligence on the ball and ability to control the tempo made him a natural replacement when Makhehleni Makhaula, the reigning Midfielder of the Season, was sidelined.
His standout moment came in the MTN8 final, facing his former club Stellenbosch FC. Nduli dictated play, broke up attacks, and helped seal a 3-1 victory.
Injury interrupted his form on 5 November during a 3-1 win over Golden Arrows. But Nduli had already cemented his role as a vital part of Orlando Pirates’ midfield.
Mid-term report card: Excellent – 8.5/10.