Former Chippa United midfielder Siphelele Luthuli has opened up to the Siya crew about his time training with Orlando Pirates and the emotional rollercoaster of receiving a surprise call-up to the Bafana Bafana CHAN squad, despite being without a club.
The 30-year-old, who has had stints at clubs including Highlands Park, Bloemfontein Celtic, Royal AM, and most recently Chippa United, spent some weeks training with the Buccaneers since December 2024.
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Known for his industrious displays and ability to control midfield battles, Luthuli was hoping to impress Bucs coach Jose Riveiro during his trial.
“Sipho Chaine and Thabiso Lebitso were great with me,” Luthuli told the Siya crew. “They gave me advice on how to impress the coach and what’s expected at Pirates. They also reminded me of how big the club is, which motivated me even more,” he said.
Both Chaine and Lebitso, Luthuli’s former teammates from past clubs, played key roles in helping him settle in and understand the expectations at Pirates.
However, in February 2025, Luthuli’s training stint with the Buccaneers quietly came to an end, with no deal materialising.
Despite that, he remained optimistic – and soon after, life took an unexpected turn.
Luthuli was at home watching TV when he received a phone call that would lift his spirits after a tough few months.
“When I got the call from the team manager telling me to report to SAFA House, I honestly thought I was dreaming,” he said. “It took a while to sink in. I’ve been through a lot, so hearing that kind of news felt unreal.”
His inclusion in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad, despite not being attached to any club at the time, came as a massive personal milestone.
“Being part of the CHAN team meant a lot to me,” Luthuli added. “Even when I was training with the team in Bloemfontein, I kept wondering how it all happened. But I was grateful. Coach Molefi Ntseki told me he was impressed – especially since I hadn’t played competitively in a while.”
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The highlight? Scoring for Bafana in CHAN.
“Getting my name on the scoresheet felt amazing. The support I got afterwards – from fans and from my mother – made it even more special. She was proud, and that meant everything to me,” concluded Luthuli.
