How Pirates’ crowded ‘number 10’ role is fueling their trophy hunt

As the 2025/26 season reaches its boiling point, Orlando Pirates legend Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi believes the fierce internal rivalry for the “number 10” jersey has become the club’s greatest strength.

With the Buccaneers still fighting on multiple fronts, the abundance of world-class playmakers at Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s disposal has shifted from a selection headache to a tactical masterclass.

A Wealth of Creative Riches For Pirates

The competition at Mayfair has never been stiffer. While Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi and teenage sensation Relebohile Mofokeng have been the mainstays, the recent surge of Sipho Mbule and the clinical arrival of Andre De Jong have raised the bar. Even Bafana Bafana star Oswin Appollis has proven his worth when called upon, leaving the technical team with a “champagne problem.”

Rather than a crowded locker room creating friction, Vilakazi argues that this “logjam” is keeping the stars sharp.

Speaking on the Omniaudioafrica podcast, the “Little Napoleon” highlighted that the secret to Pirates’ current form is that no player feels safe in the starting XI.

“Let me tell you this, everyone in that team who can play that position is on their toes,” Vilakazi observed. “Mofokeng has scored two in his last two games. De Jong is finding the net. Tito is combining brilliantly with Mbuthuma, and Mbule is scoring too.”

For Vilakazi, the versatility of these four players makes the Buccaneers a nightmare for opposition analysts. “If you play Tito, he scores. You play Mofokeng, he creates and scores. De Jong and Mbule do the same. This is exactly what you need in the second round.”

The Pirates Marathon and the Cup

With the Nedbank Cup in full swing and the Betway Premiership entering its final stretch, Vilakazi believes this depth will be the deciding factor in where the silverware ends up.

“The league is a marathon. You need everyone at their best during this period. If all your ‘number 10s’ are on song now, life becomes easier. Coach Ouadd has brought something that was missing for a long time—real, high-quality competition.”

The Battle for the ’10’: Recent Form

Player Primary Impact Status
Relebohile Mofokeng: Dribbling & Goal Scoring 2 Goals in 2 games
Patrick Maswanganyi: Playmaking & Links Frequent Assists
Andre De Jong: Experience & Penalties Recent Goalscorer
Sipho Mbule: Shooting & Control High Impact Sub/Starter