Orlando Pirates confirm Phillip Ndlondlo exit, loan out Monnapule Saleng ahead of new season

In a club statement released on Monday, Pirates confirmed that Ndlondlo has been released, allowing the 28-year-old to join a club of his choice as a free agent. The central midfielder had been with the Buccaneers since 2022 and featured regularly during his stint in Soweto.

"Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm the departure of midfielder Phillip Ndlondlo. The 28-year-old is now free to sign with a club of his choice," read the club statement.

"The Club extends its sincere gratitude to Phillip for his professionalism and commitment during his spell at Orlando Pirates and wishes him every success in the next chapter of his career."

While Ndlondlo exits permanently, Pirates also confirmed that Saleng will be loaned out for the 2025/26 season. The 27-year-old winger is set to return to Orbit College FC - the club where his professional journey began.

"An agreement has been reached with Orbit College FC for the loan of Monnapule Saleng. The 27-year-old will spend the 2025/26 season with the newly crowned outfit," the club said.

Saleng endured a difficult campaign last season, limited to just five appearances, with his last match coming in December against Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League. The loan move is seen as a strategic effort to give the speedy winger more game time and a chance to rediscover his form.

Orbit College, who recently earned promotion to the Betway Premiership, have shown ambition in the transfer market and are expected to rely on Saleng's experience as they navigate their debut season in South Africa's top flight under coach Pogiso Makhoye.

As Pirates continue to reshape their squad, more changes are anticipated in the coming weeks as they look to bounce back from a challenging 2024/25 campaign and mount a stronger title challenge.