Competition in the Orlando Pirates striking department is set to get fierce, as the club has moved closer to securing the signature of an experienced forward.
Pirates have been slowly beefing the team under the mentorship of Jose Riveiro, after they made two deadline day signings, Kermit Erasmus and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, who both played a key role in the club winning the MTN8.
As reported in edition 1301 of Soccer Laduma, the Sea Robbers are ready to finally offer Ndumiso Mabena, a one-time Buccaneer, a contract.
Read: Pirates’ Awaited Mabena Decision Pending…
Mabena has been without a club since the beginning of the season after his contract with former team Royal AM was terminated by mutual consent, after AM failed to pay his salary for at least three months.
The well travelled striker has been training with the MTN8 champions for some time and was captured with the team in the Wafa Wafa tournament final against AmaZulu, where got to celebrate with the Buccaneers.
The former Thwihli Thwahla forward is a free agent and can therefore sign at any time but news reaching the Siya crew is that Pirates have earmarked the January period to officially bring him on board, now that the PSL is in recess due to the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
At 35, there were eyebrows raised when Mabena was initially linked with the Sea Robbers but he brings a wealth of experience that the team lacks in the striking department.
Pirates, before the form of Monnapule Saleng and Kermit Erasmus, created plenty of chances but needed a profile of a striker, who can be calm enough in the box to finish off the moves.
Mabena is not just any experienced forward out there and will be motivated to keep writing his name in the history books, as he is among the top 20 PSL goal-scorers of all time.
The Groblersdal-born goal poacher is in 18th position in the PSL all-time goal-scoring list with 52 goals, excluding cup competitions.
Mabena is tied with Erasmus on 52 goals and is just three goals shy of Themba Zwane.
Should the 35-year old finally put pen to paper at the Houghton-based outfit, he will have a chance to surpass some of the big names in the all-time goal-scoring charts, including Siyabonga Nomvethe (56) and Katlego Mphela (58).
SuperSport United striker Bradley Grobler is the leading marksman in the PSL all-time goal-scoring charts with 77 goals and counting, followed by Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat, who is just a goal shy in second place.
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