Pre-season to prepare Orlando Pirates for tough season – Ncikazi

Orlando Pirates FC assistant coach, Mandla Ncikazi, has highlighted how their pre-season training tour of Spain would prepare the Buccaneers for the 2025-2026 Betway Premiership season.

He said this upon arrival in Spain the two-week preparations in the coastal city of Marbella where they will play four friendlies.

Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s right hand-man told the club’s media that the Buccaneers will use the camp to build cohesion and integrate new signings ahead of the Betway Premiership campaign.

“We’ve just arrived in Spain after a long flight,” the former Lamontville Golden Arrows handler said on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

“Today is about recovery, but from tomorrow it’s all systems go. The upcoming season will be tough, so our preparation must cover all possible scenarios. We have a new crop of players that we need to integrate into the group as quickly as possible.”

Pirates, who have travelled with a 32-man squad to Marbella, will play friendlies against English opposition, Bolton Wanderers, on July 11, followed by a meeting with Cypriot champions Pafos FC on July 13.

Ouaddou’s side will then switch to a meeting with La Liga’s Las Palmas on July 17 then wind up the tour against Granada on July 19. Pirates played 52 games across all competitions last season, including in the CAF Champions League. The Soweto giants finished behind Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns.