Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane’s future at the club is up for discussion, as he enters the final six months of his current contract. While Mpontshane has been a trusted shot-stopper at Pirates over the years, his performances have come under criticism lately. According to Soccer Laduma’s edition 1306, the Buccaneers are yet to officially open talks with Mpontshane’s camp to map a way forward.
The Siya crew understands that despite criticism from some section of the supporters, Pirates will not be swayed by public opinion in deciding the fate of the former Platinum Stars goalkeeper beyond June 2023. Soccer Laduma looks at the factors that could influence the Buccaneers’ decision over the veteran goalkeeper’s future.
Pirates were initially keen on signing Ronwen Williams while he was at SuperSport United and made an official bid for his services, but they were unsuccessful. The Sea Robbers subsequently turned their attention to AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa and looked to entice him away from the club with his contract expiring last season. However, Mothwa eventually signed a long-term deal at the Durban-based club and Pirates will have to pay a significant transfer fee to prize him away from Usuthu.
Another factor that could influence the Buccaneers’ decision is Richard Ofori’s injuries. Ofori has struggled with a spate of injuries in recent years, the last of which made him miss out in Ghana’s squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. If the former Maritzburg United goalkeeper’s fitness issues persist, Pirates could be more inclined to hold onto Mpontshane as the experienced shot-stopper apart from the Ghanaian.
Finally, Mpontshane is one of the long-serving members at Pirates having been at the club since 2015. If the club wants to reward him with a role in the technical team, in the goalkeeping department, once he retires, that could also affect their reasoning on whether to keep him a little longer at the club or not.
