CAF rules state that any club that has registered less than 30 players in January may complete – upon reaching the last eight – its list of up to 30 players between July 1 and August 5, provided that the additional list doesn’t exceed seven new players.
With Pirates having registered 25 players at the time of CAF’s January deadline, it means they can now add another five to that list which has only been affected by the departure of Daine Klate, while Lucky Lekgwathi appears to be already in semi-retirement.
Out-of-favour striker Helder Pelembe and Khethowakhe Masuku are both registered for CAF, but word is that they could have left the club by the time the domestic transfer window shuts at the end of August.
Of the current squad, Tshepo Gumede, Menzi Masuku, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Mpho Mvelase, Maselaelo Seanego, Mwape Musonda and new signing Gift Motupa are not registered for CAF.
Mpontshane’s name should be amongst the first of those five as only two goalkeepers in Brighton Mhlongo and Patrick Zikalala have been registered, with the latter having not featured last season.
Following a brief break, Pirates reported back for training on Monday in preparation for the start of their group stages commitments, which get underway on June 27 with a trip to Congo to face AC Leopards.
With the rest of the PSL still in pre-season mode, the Buccaneers will then host Zamalek on July 11 and then travel to Tunisia to face CS Sfaxien on July 25, who they will then welcome to Orlando on August 8 – by which time the domestic season will be underway.
Two weeks later on August 22, AC Leopards will be the visitors before the group stages close off with another long trip up north to Egypt for a date with Zamalek on September 12.