New signings leave Bucs coach with a headache

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has made his objective to get the club to fight for silverware very clear, with four new signings to bolster his squad for the 2020/2021 season.

The Buccaneers signed three players from Bidvest Wits – Thulani Hlatswayo (right), Deon Hotto and Terrence Dzukamanha – as well as Baroka FC’s Collins Makgaka.

The new signings have impressed former Buccaneers striker Phumudzo Manenzhe, particularly South African national team captain Hlatswayo, but Manenzhe says Hlatswayo’s addition into the Bucs squad will also give Zinnbauer a headache.

“Talk about a great signing made by Orlando Pirates acquiring the services of the national team captain. He brings in good leadership skills, lots of quality in that Pirates defence and is a good man marker. He is good aerially, defensively and offensively. So, he is great signing,” said Manenzhe.

“The big question is, however, due to his versatility, where is he going to play?

“Do you play him at rightback or do you play him as a centre-back, or do you move Nyauza to his original position at right-back? Then of course, what do you say to (John) Mabaso or (Evans) Dube when you shift one of the centre-backs from last season? That is a big question that Josef Zinnbauer has to deal with, and he will obviously have to try different combinations at training.

Manenzhe added that recruiting him would make things easier for captain Happy Jele, with Hlatswayo bringing the added good leadership skills into the Bucs camp.

“But at the end of the day, that’s a great signing by Pirates bringing in Hlatswayo.

“He will also take a lot of weight off Jele’s shoulders as the leader and team captain,” added Manenzhe.

With four new players, it remains to be seen whether the Buccaneers will still be looking to sign any more players.

The club have already been linked with several players, including AmaZulu FC’s Bongi Ntuli and the Maritzburg United pair Rushine de Reuck and that club’s goalkeeper Richard Ofori.