Pirates making their transfer moves early
Orlando Pirates announced yesterday that they had signed defenders Diamond Thopola and Phetso Maphanga from Chippa United, with attacking midfielder Thabo Rakhale going the other way as part of the deal.
Rightback Thopola was a key part of the Chippa side in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons and was even named club captain, but injury has hampered his progress, with the 27-year-old making just three league appearances for Chippa this season.
Thopola remains a highly-rated defender, however, and has even made one appearance for Bafana Bafana, in a friendly against Angola in March 2017.
The left-sided Maphanga has been a regular for Chippa since signing at the start of this season from Cape Town All Stars. Maphanga had started 15 of Chippa’s 17 games in all competitions thus far.
Rakhale, meanwhile, moves after battling to get into the Buccaneers’ first team under new coach Milutin Sredojevic. The 27 year-old, who was a key part of Pirates’ run to the Caf Confederation Cup final in 2015, has made just one league start all season, and will no doubt now hope to revive his career at Chippa, thus emulating another former Pirate in Mark Mayambela.
“Orlando Pirates Football Club is pleased to announce the signings of defenders Diamond Thopola and Phetso Maphanga from Chippa United,” a Pirates statement read yesterday.
Both players join with immediate effect and will be introduced to the coaching staff when training resumes on December 27.
“The club can also confirm that winger Thabo Rakhale moves across to the Chilli Boys as part of the deal. The club would like to thank Rakhale for his contribution at the club and wish him all of the best in his future endeavours.”
Pirates have had a decidedly mixed start to life under Sredojevic, heading into Christmas in seventh position in the Absa Premiership, with just four wins from 15 league matches.
This is the second time this year that Pirates have gone to Chippa. In January they signed defenders James Okwuosa and Marc van Heerden but it was hardly a successful purchase. Okwuosa is already back with the Chilli Boys, while Van Heerden could also be headed back there having made just four starts thus far under Sredojevic.