Orlando Pirates: Zinnbauer not ruling out last-minutes signings

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has hinted at possibly signing a player or two in the final days of the January transfer window.

The ongoing window closes on Friday 31 January, and so far, the Buccaneers have not made any additions to their squad.

This is after making eight signings before the start of the season while letting go of over a dozen players.

Zinnbauer hints at new Orlando Pirates signings

Having guided the club to five wins in six matches, the German was quizzed on whether there would be any new additions to the squad and did not completely rule out roping in a player or two.

“We have four wins in a row in my time, but perhaps if we lose one game then it’s not so easy and you could say we need new players,” said Zinnbauer.

“But we have the points and we make most of the time a good performance, so we have a good squad. Yes, the market is open but we are happy with the squad at the moment.

“It’s not. In time we will search and get new players, but we have time maybe [for a new signing]. In football anything is possible.”

Josef Zinnbauer

Who the Buccaneers could still sign

Pirates have been linked with a number of players in various positions during the transfer window.

Although they have a considerably large squad, with stiff competition for places, they have been quite thin at the back, with suspension and injury forcing a few of their wide players to operate in the centre of the defence.

Players the club have been linked with include former Cape Town City defender Kouassi Kouadja, who was reported to be training with the club, but no deal is yet to be confirmed.

Another player said to be on Pirates’ radar is Chippa United’s Frederic Nsabiyumva. However, the Port Elizabeth-based club has expressed a willingness to hang on to their players in their bid to climb up to the top half of the table.

It’s also not only defenders the club as reportedly been eyeing, with Burkinabe striker Yacouba Sogne heavily linked with a move to Soweto since the previous window.

The marksman is currently without a club since cutting ties with Ghanaian outfit, Asante Kotoko earlier in the month.

Another potential new Buccaneer is Black Leopards’ in-form attacking midfielder Lesedi Kapinga.

Pirates’ next fixture sees them travelling to Port Elizabeth to meet Chippa on Saturday.