Orlando Pirates have recently made significant changes to their goalkeeping department, releasing experienced keepers Richard Ofori and Siyabonga Mpontshane, and opting instead to invest in younger talents.
There have been question marks whether they should bring in another experienced PSL player, such as Mamelodi Sundowns keeper Reyaad Pieterse who doesn't get enough games at the Brazilians. This is if Pieterse would become available at some stage in future. A club such as Sundowns have boasted a different approach with highly experienced keepers in backup roles in their squad, such as Pieterse and Denis Onyango while Ronwen Williams has been their first choice.
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Instead, Pirates seem to be content on bringing through youth in that department. The club has signed promising goalkeepers Ethan Visagie and Bayanda Zulu, promoted Siyanda Dladla from their feeder team Pele Pele, and welcomed back Sphamandla Gumede from a loan spell.
With only two experienced goalkeepers, Sipho Chaine and Melusi Buthelezi, remaining at Bucs, the club's strategy appears to be focused on grooming young talent to take over the reins in the future. Former Bucs goalkeeper William Okpara, in an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, endorsed this approach, emphasizing the importance of integrating young goalkeepers into the team culture from an early stage.
"It's very good to have young goalkeepers coming through the ranks to the senior team. As they learn from the seniors and experienced colleagues they also learn the culture and philosophy of the club and they grow in that culture which is very important for a club. I believe the management and technical team know what the are doing and they have a good vision for that," the Nigerian born legend told the Siya crew.
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Okpara highlighted the success stories of former goalkeepers like the late Senzo Meyiwa and Brighton Mhlongo, who both rose through the ranks at Pirates, learning from experienced predecessors before taking their place as first-choice keepers.
"You know when you have been there and grown up learning from the older guys you are always confident when your time comes. That's the culture of investing in the youth and Pirates will benefit from that. They have two experienced goalkeepers and the young ones are also ready to step up when given the chance as they will be competing with the seniors. That's keeping the culture of the team and it's good for continuity," Okpara concluded.
