Bucs renew Petersen interest

Orlando Pirates want in on the Bidvest Wits fire sale too, with Siya sources indicating that the Buccaneers have renewed their interest in their Premier Soccer League rivals’ first-choice goalkeeper, Brandon Petersen.

It’s understood that Pirates have been long- time admirers of the 25-year-old shot-stopper and were contemplating signing him from Ajax Cape Town before he eventually joined The Clever Boys in July last year as a free agent.

But now that Wits is on the verge of being sold to businessman Masala Mulaudzi and relocating to Venda – if approved by the League’s executive committee – insiders have indicated this could open the door for the Soweto giants to consider finally landing the highly-rated keeper, who’s also now on the Bafana Bafana radar.

The pursuit of Petersen could mean Pirates cooling off their interest in Maritzburg United’s Ghana international, Richard Ofori, especially given that the club would not have to make room for a foreigner to accommodate the Wits star.

Both have contracts running until June 2021, but it is expected that Petersen could be considered the most viable option as the Braamfontein-based side are much more open to selling than Maritzburg are at the moment.

Siya sources have indicated in the past that Mamelodi Sundowns were also keen on Petersen as a long-term successor to Denis Onyango, but the opportunity for game-time appears much higher at Pirates, who are still to make a decision on a new contract for Wayne Sandilands – their No.1 for the current season.