Orlando Pirates Confirm Departure of Sipho Mbule After Trophy-Laden Season

Orlando Pirates have confirmed the departure of Sipho Mbule, drawing a line under a short stay that burned bright and delivered trophies in bunches.

One season. That was all “Master Chef” needed.

Mbule arrived at a club starved of a league title and hungry to reassert itself as a dominant force. By the end of the 2025/26 campaign, Pirates had stacked their cabinet and snapped a 14-year wait for the Betway Premiership crown, with the midfielder firmly in the thick of it.

The tone of the season was set early. Pirates opened their campaign by lifting the MTN8 Cup, sweeping aside Stellenbosch FC 3-1. Mbule slotted into a side that suddenly looked ruthless in knockout football, helping drive a tempo that opponents struggled to live with.

The momentum didn’t fade. As the year wound towards its close, Pirates added the Carling Black Label Cup to their haul, seeing off Marumo Gallants to underline their growing swagger. Mbule’s presence in midfield gave the Buccaneers a calm, creative core in the biggest moments.

His club form did not go unnoticed. With the calendar turning to 2026, Mbule earned a recall to the South African national team and stepped onto the continental stage at the African Cup of Nations, a reminder of the quality that had once made him one of the country’s most talked-about talents.

Back in domestic colours, the real prize waited. Pirates’ long pursuit of the Betway Premiership title finally ended as they clinched the championship, ending more than a decade of frustration. Mbule played his part in that run, contributing to a campaign that will sit in club folklore.

Now the chapter closes. Pirates have placed on record their gratitude for his contribution across a season that brought the MTN8 Cup, the Carling Black Label Cup, a return to Bafana Bafana, an AFCON appearance, and, above all, a long-overdue league title.