Orlando Pirates star catches Baroka FC’s eye
Out-of-favour, Orlando Pirates midfielder, Mpho Mvelase, has attracted interest from reigning National First Division (NFD) champions, Baroka FC
POLOKWANE – The erstwhile Chippa United defender-cum-midfielder struggled for game time at Pirates during the recent 2015/16 season and he looks set to leave the Houghton-based team.
It is understood that Baroka has identified Mvelase as a target as they prepare for new life in the Absa Premiership.
The chances are good that Mpho will leave Pirates before the start of next season. The dexterous player has also been linked with moves to Lamontville Golden Arrows and his former team, Chippa, in the past, but he remained at Buccaneers. The 27-year-old versatile player made only two competitive appearances for the Buccaneers this past season. The Ga-Mphahlele-based outfit says if they were to sign Premier Soccer League (PSL) players, it would be the likes of Khama Billiat and Eric Mathoho, not rejects.
Club CEO, Morgan Mamilla, is hard at work trying to secure players for their debut top-flight season, but he insists they would rather sign talented youngsters than old rejects.
“We’ve done some signings already but we’ll unveil most of them as time progresses. We are targeting 10 players, but so far we’ve only got eight and they’re all NFD players. We don’t want rejects from other PSL clubs. If I’m going to sign a PSL player I want Billiat or Mathoho, not people who have been released by their clubs. If they are good players, why are they being released?” Mamilla asked rhetorically.
Mamilla says Baroka won’t be tempted to do what other PSL newcomers usually do by biting off more than they can chew budget wise. He said: “Because I’m not yet Chiefs, Pirates or Sundowns, I will stick to my size (budget). Let them come with experience, I will come with talent, then we’ll see who will win”.
Mamilla also confirmed that they have signed Moroka Swallows midfielder, James Bell.
“He is our player now. He plays in the middle. I hear people say he is not a good player, but what I like about him is that he can delay play. In the middle you need someone who can delay play for two seconds to secure a goal, rather than miss one due to being too eager.”
