A Soweto giant is believed to have concluded yet another deal with a midfielder who, according to insiders, has been offered a long-term contract at the club.
Soccer Laduma and the Siya crew have previously reported that Orlando Pirates have been following the progress of a Marumo Gallants midfielder, and it is now believed that they are close to landing his signature.
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Insiders close to the player and both Marumo Gallants and Bucs have indicated that Soweto-born Masindi Nemtajela is believed to have agreed to a three-year deal at the Houghton club which is expected to run until June 2028.
"The deal for Masindi Nemtajela is as good as done. It's actually believed to be a three-year deal. Almost everything is finalised and he is expected to join the team in the pre-season camp. It's actually the scouts and recruiters who recommended him to the team so it's not really about who the coach will be. They looked at what he brings to the team which apparently is different from most of the midfielders the club has at the moment. So it's a three-year deal from July 2025 to June 2028," the insider told the Siya crew.
A second source stated that Nemtajela is hoped to be the direct replacement of Miguel Timm who the club has already announced has left.
"The scouts and recruiters were looking at a direct replacement for Timm and Masindi fitted in that area and that's why they went for him. Now it's believed that everything is sorted and a three-year deal has been agreed," the second source revealed.
The Soweto-born midfielder joined Gallants while they were still in the Motsepe Foundation Championship and he featured in nearly all the games in his first season, while in the Betway Premiership he played in a high amount of games.
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Soccer Laduma contacted Marumo Gallants and Pirates for comment but there was no response at the time of publishing this story.
This acquisition continues the Sea Robbers' strategy of strengthening their midfield following Timm's departure. With Nemtajela coming in on a long-term deal, it appears the club is planning for stability in the middle of the park over the coming seasons.
The 'different' qualities that scouts identified in the Gallants midfielder suggest the Buccaneers are looking to evolve their playing style, potentially bringing new dimensions to their approach under whoever takes charge for the upcoming campaign.
