Who was released v who was signed…

Released Gabadinho Mhango

Under Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids last season, Mhango saw little action and it’s understood that off-field issues may have played a role in that and, eventually, his departure. Despite going to the Africa Cup of Nations in January and scoring three goals for Malawi, including a cracker against Morocco, he spent most of his time watching Pirates’ matches from the sidelines last season, even through their struggles in front of goal. The 30-year-old played a total of 143 minutes in the league last season, as he made five appearances and finished the campaign without a goal to his name. This season, for AmaZulu FC, the aggressive forward has banged in four goals in nine appearances, which is more than the goals all of the Buccaneers strikers have scored combined thus far! How Pirates must be wishing that they had someone as lethal as Mhango up front…

Tshegofatso Mabasa

The lanky striker’s time at the Soweto giants was hampered by injuries and he was not quite able to live up to the expectations after joining from Bloemfontein Celtic. When he played, though, the left-footed player often made a difference. Last season, he was in and out of the team, finishing the campaign with three goals in all competitions. The campaign before that, Mabasa netted eight times in all competition for the Soweto giants, his best season for the club. During his first campaign at the club, he scored seven times in all competitions. In three seasons, the Botshabelo-born man scored a total of 18 goals for Pirates.

Signed Eva Nga

Brought in from Chippa United after bagging 10 goals last season and a total of 16 in two campaigns there, Nga made the perfect start when he netted on debut in a 1-0 victory over Swallows FC on the opening weekend of the season. But the Cameroonian forward has not been able to find the back of the net since then and seems to have fallen out of favour, with coach Jose Riveiro using Zakhele Lepasa more as the lone striker, with new signing Kermit Erasmus coming on as a substitute. Nga has a big frame and gives Pirates the option of playing route one football and his ability to hold up play and win aerial battles creates opportunities for teammates, but he is unlikely to be the regular goal scorer that the club is looking for. He also does not seem to be a favourite of the fans and the sooner he starts scoring again, the better for his future prospects at the Soweto giants.

Evidence Makgopa

He joined on the back of a disappointing campaign with Baroka FC, who were relegated at the end of last season. In 31 matches in all competitions, the lanky forward scored just three goals and also contributed with four assists. Not an impressive record, but it also did not help that he started his spell with Pirates having to nurse an ankle injury, thus delaying his debut in the famous Black & White colours. In the three seasons he spent with Bakgaga, Makgopa failed to reach double figures in a single campaign. His best season was 2020/21 when he scored seven goals in 29 appearances. He is not quite as powerful and explosive as Nga, but Makgopa does have the ability to hold up and win aerial battles with his height. He will give Bucs a different dimension, but whether the team will be able to play to his strength is an entirely different discussion.

Kermit Erasmus

The pint-sized attacker is not new to Houghton, but the challenge for him at the moment is probably match fitness. Before leaving Mamelodi Sundowns on transfer deadline day, the 32-year-old striker had not played a single match this season. Erasmus was at the Brazilians for a little over two seasons after joining from Cape Town City. During his time at Chloorkop, he netted 10 goals. He bagged six in his first season in 2020/21 and four last term. The Gqeberhaborn star was unable to get ahead of Downs’ main striker Peter Shalulile and moved further down the pecking order when Abubeker Nasir arrived from Ethiopia. With the likes of Thabiso Kutumela also playing ahead of him, Erasmus felt it was best to leave to get game-time elsewhere. He is a danger in the box and should bag a few goals for the Buccaneers, but are his injury concerns a thing of the past? Big question mark.