Orlando Pirates FC loanees Msendami and Mariko face January wait

Orlando Pirates FC loanees Daniel Msendami and Abdoulaye Mariko are ineligible to play for Marumo Gallants after a registration paperwork error missed the transfer deadline, forcing them to wait until January.

Orlando Pirates FC loanees Daniel Msendami and Abdoulaye Mariko have been blocked from playing for Marumo Gallants due to a registration error. The Premier Soccer League did not clear the pair after their paperwork was not finalised before the transfer window closed, making them ineligible for the Betway Premiership.

Neither the Zimbabwean striker Msendami nor the Malian midfielder Mariko has featured in a matchday squad since their late-window moves. The administrative oversight means their next opportunity to register will be in the January transfer window. This comes as Orlando Pirates themselves are in imperious form, sitting second in the standings with 25 points from nine games and on a five-match winning run. The team's record of eight wins and one draw has them just one point off the top, with a formidable goal difference of plus nineteen having scored 21 and conceded only 2.

Squad depth filled by new signings

With the loanees unavailable, new Orlando Pirates signings have stepped into their positions. Thapelo Mokobodi, who has scored two goals and created four assists in 14 games, and Mtheleli Mthiyane, with 11 appearances in a deeper role, have been prominent. Another new arrival, Ghampani Lungu, has contributed four goals and an assist in 11 matches. Their contributions have been vital during the team's flawless recent run of five wins, which includes victories over Kaizer Chiefs, Milford FC, and TS Galaxy. In the most recent 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday 31 October, goals came from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi, with Mokobodi providing both assists. Moremi, the team's top scorer with five goals this season, also netted a brace in the 3-0 win over Milford FC on Tuesday 27 October.

The registration issue is a setback for Marumo Gallants, who have struggled this season with six defeats before a recent 3-2 win. For Orlando Pirates, the focus remains on maintaining their title challenge, just one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Their next fixture is away to 14th-placed Siwelele on Wednesday 4 November.