Orlando Pirates recently announced the signing of former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sipho Mbule, and it appears the Sea Robbers may not be done "raiding" their Tshwane rivals.
An insider with connections across both Soweto and Chloorkop has indicated that the Buccaneers have shown interest in a midfielder who was also apparently on Kaizer Chiefs' radar.
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The insider with access to transfer information across multiple clubs added that Pirates are believed to have enquired about Neo Maema, who has not been a regular starter at Sundowns in recent times.
"Yes, the club is believed to have made enquiries about Maema. Actually he was the first one even before Sipho Mbule. It has to be seen what will be the next move because apparently he still has one year on his contract with Sundowns. And Kaizer Chiefs are also believed to be interested in him," the insider told Soccer Laduma.
An insider privy to information on the midfielder's career ambitions, stated that the player himself needs more game time, which means he may have to think about a transfer.
"At the moment the player also seems to he looking at the opportunity of moving away from Sundowns to go and play regularly somewhere. It could be at Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs depending on which club really needs him. But the player apparently just wants to play regularly," the second source stated.
New Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou even discussed Maema in a radio interview with Robert Marawa on 94.7 FM lately, where he admitted a desire to have Maema and Mbule in any team that he could coach. And with Mbule already on Pirates' books, could Maema be next?
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Soccer Laduma contacted Pirates for comment but there was no response at the time of publishing this story.
The potential acquisition of Maema would represent another valuable reinforcement for the Buccaneers, who continue to strengthen under their new Moroccan coach. Having already secured Mbule (who was recently a Sundowns player), adding Maema would provide Pirates with two technically gifted midfielders who understand each other's games.
