Sipho Mbule’s future at Orlando Pirates is in doubt. Image: Gallo Images
With a couple of weeks left before the end of the season, the future of Sipho Mbule at Orlando Pirates is hanging in the balance.
The midfielder’s contract with the Buccaneers is expected to expire at the end of the campaign, but there is an option to extend it. As it stands, Soccer Laduma understands that Pirates have not expressed an interest in exercising the option.
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As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, Pirates have until the end of May to indicate if they would like to keep Mbule, but his lack of game time in recent months remains a concern. The former SuperSport United midfielder has not started a league or cup match in 2026 for Pirates. Most of his appearances came in the first half of the season last year, before the Africa Cup of Nations.
His performances were solid enough to earn him a spot in Bafana Bafana’s AFCON squad, but things have changed after the competition in Morocco, with a big possibility of him making an exit after just one campaign with the Soweto giants.
In the race for the title, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has put his faith in other players in midfield, often using Mbule as a second-half substitute in the final 30 minutes of matches. In total, he has made just 12 league appearances, scoring one goal.
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An exit, at this stage, has not been ruled out, with Pirates expected to go into the market to bolster their squad ahead of the 2026/27 season. Mbule’s career has not been stable in the last couple of seasons, having gone out on loan last season to Sekhukhune United from Mamelodi Sundowns, who ended up letting him go at the end of the campaign.
He is now in a situation where there is a real possibility of Pirates not extending his stay.
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