Orlando Pirates are back at Marbella Football Centre in Málaga, Spain ahead of this evening’s pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle.
The Buccaneers’ schedule in the off-season features dates against The Pilgrims, Spanish giants Sevilla, as well as Qatar’s Al Sadd as they take preparations for the 2024/25 campaign up a notch following the winter break.
The first stop is Marbella, where they will come up against the English Championship outfit managed by former Manchester United and England forward Wayne Rooney.
Match Overview
Following a successful season where they defended both their MTN8 and Nedbank Cup titles, Jose Riveiro’s troops are looking to use their time in Spain to fine-tune for what promises to be another demanding season. This is after finishing second in the DStv Premiership, booking their spot in the CAF Champions League.
The upcoming season presents an opportunity to further cement their status as South Africa’s cup kings, while also looking for an improved showing in league football.
The journey towards that kicks off against The Pilgrims, who landed in Marbella on the back of a tough return to the Championship where they narrowly survived relegation after finishing in 21st position.
Having brought in Rooney, who has done some hard yards as manager via stints at Derby County and Birmingham City, the Devon-based outfit are determined to hit the ground running next season, and will take their clash against the Buccaneers as an important test in setting the tone ahead of their return to competitive action.
Team News
Both sides have undergone some personnel changes, with Plymouth recently welcoming Dutch forward Ibrahim Cissoko on a loan transfer from French Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse. He is one of three players brought in on loan by the club, alongside Manchester City youth product Darko Gyabi who joins from Leeds, as well as Slavia Prague attacker Muhamed Tijani.
Also new to The Pilgrims squad is former England Under-20 international Nathaneal Ogbeta, who joined on a permanent transfer following his departure from Swansea.
They will be without goalkeeper Callum Burton, who has been released by the club along with defensive duo, Jack Endacott and Oscar Halls, while midfielders Mickel Miller and Tyreik Wright have secured moves to Huddersfield Town and Bradford, respectively.
There have also been some notable departures in the Bucs camp during the off-season, with the likes of Vincent Pule and Fortune Makaringe among those not part of the travelling party after leaving the club.
Pirates have some new faces on tour, having confirmed the signing of Angola international Delvi Miguel Riveira – otherwise known as Gilberto – who signed a three-year-deal from Petro de Luanda. Meanwhile Academy graduates Mohau Nkota and Siyabonga Dladla are among those granted the opportunity to impress ahead of the upcoming season.
Players to Watch
The English outfit has a young squad with an average age of just under 25, but does also boast some valuable experience.
Former Scotland youth international Ryan Hardie was instrumental in helping The Pilgrims secure promotion from the third tier of English football before carrying his form into last season’s Championship campaign, where he found the net 12 times. Also providing considerable experience is former Everton and Sunderland defender Brendan Galloway, who made 36 league appearances last season on his return from a long-term injury.
Young winger Morgan Withaker led the club’s goal-scoring charts last season with 20 scored across competitions, while Cissoko will also be among the new faces looking to stamp their mark during pre-season.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Plymouth Argyle
The game is scheduled to start at 19:00 (SAST) and can be streamed live on Orlando Pirates Football Club’s YouTube channel, Pirates TV. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across the Club’s social media platforms.
