THE FUSE

Eight Sea Robbers are heading to the World Cup

Hugo Broos has announced his 26-man squad to tackle the finest the planet has to offer at the 2026 World Cup. Eight Orlando Pirates players will be boarding the plane, which isn’t a massive shock given their recent title success. They are Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa. Mofokeng got by far the loudest cheer from his peers when Hugo Broos announced the 21-year-old’s name during Wednesday’s ceremony. South Africa contests Group A, which also includes Mexico, Czechia and South Korea.

Final Bafana squad

Goalkeepers

Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, Sipho Chaine

Defenders

Khuliso Mudau, Thabang Matuludi, Khulumani Ndamane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Ime Okon, Aubrey Modiba, Samukelo Kabini, Bradley Cross, Olwethu Makhanya, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Thalente Mbatha, Jayden Adams

Attackers

Lyle Foster, Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi, Thapelo Maseko

Khoza addresses Orlando Pirates’ league success and ‘that’ drought

Club chairman Irvin Khoza has expressed his joy as Pirates finally ended their 14-year league title drought. Not really a drought, is it?

“It was not lost on me that, in a season in which we won a Treble and the Diski Challenge to boot, one of the dominant themes was: ‘after a 14-year drought,’” said Khoza.

“In that period, Orlando Pirates won five MTN8 titles, three Nedbank Cups and one Carling Knockout, reached the CAF Champions League final, reached two CAF Confederation Cup finals, and returned to the CAF Champions League semi-finals.”