Orlando Pirates set to recall star defender from Swallows loan
Bongani Sam could be headed back to KwaZulu Natal with Orlando Pirates thought to be eager to recall the defender.
Defender Bongani Sam might see his loan spell at Swallows terminated by Orlando Pirates in the midst of the Dube Birds ongoing financial woes.
Sam is on loan from the Buccaneers for the 2023/24 season, and his performances on the pitch have been promising thus far.
The 26-year-old first joined Swallows in January 2023 after his loan spell with Maritzburg United was cut short.
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ORLANDO PIRATES SET TO RECALL LOAN STAR
Pirates recently announced that the defender’s contract with had been extended for another two years, until at least June 2025.
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Sam has been a prominent player for the Swallows this season, making 13 starts in their league campaign thus far under head coach Steve Komphela.
Sam may be one of the stars to depart Swallows during this transfer window, according to reports, because of the financial impasse between the players and management.
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The league recently fined the Swallows for failing to play their two December games against Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns, respectively, when players rebelled in protest over unpaid wages.
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Sam’s loan deal may be cancelled by Bucs, and AmaZulu is known to be keenly observing the issue.
“Bongani Sam could be the next player to leave Swallows as a result of the club’s financial situation and an unhappy camp,” a source told Soccer Laduma.
“The player’s situation is concerning to his parent club Pirates and there is already interest in him from elsewhere.
“AmaZulu are keen on the player,” the source added.
Sam joined Pirates for an undisclosed fee in 2019, signing from Bloemfontein Celtic.
The Motherwell-born left back had made his professional debut for Highlands Park in 2017.
Despite his evident promise Sam hasn’t been able to nail down a place in the Orlando Pirates starting XI with the club content to loan him out to get game time at the moment.