With pre-season preparations underway at Orlando Pirates, an article on their website has revealed that they are soon to reduce their squad size.
The Pirates technical team, which has recently added goalkeeper coach Andrew Sparkes, Football Analysis Department team member Darian Wilken and head of performance Franck Plaine to its ranks, will be tasked with cutting the squad down to a manageable size.
“As is tradition for most clubs during pre-season, teams tend to begin their programmes with bloated squads. For the Buccaneers it will be no different,” the article on the Bucs website said.
“The current squad complement for the Technical Team to deal with sits at around 45. However, as the pre-season progresses, the Technical Team will reduce the playing complement to a manageable number closer to the start of the 2018/19 season.”
Pirates finished second to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2017/18 Premiership, earning themselves a CAF Champions League spot. The season ahead is set to be a gruelling one, and Pirates’ players began preparations by undergoing medical assessments.
“Before any work starts, we need to know at what level our players are at. This is a very important aspect of preseason because without knowing what level your players are, you may end up with a lot of injuries,” explained Warren Engelbrecht, the club’s sports scientist.
Pirates have already been busy in the transfer market, sealing the signings of Brilliant Khuzwayo, Vincent Pule, Ben Motshwari, Meshack Maphangule, Asavela Mbekile, Linda Mntambo, Abel Mabaso, Paseka Mako and Kudakwashe Mahachi.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have also confirmed the departure of Brighton Mhlongo, Riyaad Norodien and Marc van Heerden.
