Forget sunny holidays—Orlando Pirates are all business this July.
The South African giants have jetted off to Marbella, Spain, not for leisure, but to get down to the serious grind of pre-season training.
And make no mistake—they’re wasting no time.
Just hours after landing, the squad was already breaking a sweat in their first training session, signaling that this trip is more about bootcamp than beach days.
Third Time’s a Charm in Marbella
This marks the third consecutive year Pirates have chosen Spain as their pre-season base.
And clearly, the technical team is sticking with what works.
This year, they’ve brought along a 32-man squad packed with both seasoned regulars and fresh faces ready to prove themselves.
What’s on the agenda? A series of tough friendly matches designed to put every player to the test.
Here’s a look at what’s lined up:
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July 11 – First face-off against England’s Bolton Wanderers
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July 13 – Next up, a meeting with Cypriot champions Pafos FC
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July 17 – Things heat up with a match against La Liga side Las Palmas
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July 19 – The final showdown comes against Granada
Fans can keep tabs on all the action via Pirates’ official social media channels, which promise plenty of match updates, exclusive training clips, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the Spanish tour.
New Faces Ready to Shine
This 32-player group also gives fans their first real look at Pirates’ latest signings.
The club has confirmed a wave of newcomers, including:
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Sipho Mbule
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Masindi Nemtajela
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Nkosikhona Ndaba
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Tshepo Mashiloane
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Sihle Nduli
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Tshepang Moremi
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Sinoxolo Kwayiba
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Yanela Mbuthuma
One of the biggest splashes, though, was Oswin Appollis, whose arrival was confirmed with much fanfare.
The team is also expected to finalize the addition of Abdoulaye Mariko, a midfielder from Mali.
On top of that, sources say that TS Galaxy centre-back Lebone Seema could also be heading to the Pirates camp soon.
And all of this comes as new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou starts to put his own stamp on the squad.
Shirt Numbers Revealed: Here’s Who’s Wearing What
The club has also pulled back the curtain on some of the jersey numbers for these new additions.
Here’s a quick rundown:
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Sipho Mbule will wear No. 39
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Oswin Appollis, the Bafana Bafana winger, gets No. 15
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Tshepang Moremi, one of the most anticipated arrivals, is taking on the legendary No. 11 jersey
That number 11 shirt carries a lot of weight in Pirates history—so it’s no small statement of confidence in Moremi.
What’s Next?
With the pre-season schedule packed and the squad brimming with fresh talent, all eyes will be on how these new pieces fit into the Pirates’ puzzle.
Can they gel in time for the new campaign? Will Coach Ouaddou’s tactics start to show? And will Spain once again work its magic?
One thing’s for sure—this pre-season is far from a holiday.