JOHANNESBURG — Orlando Pirates have been forced back into the transfer market for a right-back after missing out on top target Thabang Matuludi, with Chippa United's versatile defender Sergio Kammies now emerging as a serious option for the January window.

Pirates' right-back crisis has become one of the defining stories of their 2026/27 campaign. The club entered the season light in the position after a major clear-out that saw three natural right-backs leave in one window — Deano Van Rooyen, Thabiso Lebitso and Siyabonga Ndlozi all departed. The situation was worsened when Kamogelo Sebelebele picked up an injury after the MTN8 Final and subsequently missed the Soweto Derby, leaving head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou with no recognised specialist in the role.

That shortage forced Pirates to improvise, with Bulelani Sigomoshe and even left-footed winger Deon Hotto being deployed at right-back in recent weeks. While Sigomoshe was praised for his shift against Kaizer Chiefs, the makeshift solution is not seen as sustainable for a team competing on multiple fronts, including the Betway Premiership and Carling Knockout.

The initial plan was to secure Thabang Matuludi from Polokwane City. The 26-year-old Bafana Bafana international had been identified as a priority target, but Pirates lost the race. Matuludi had been the subject of a tug-of-war between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, with the Brazilians ultimately winning the highly contested race for his signature and signing him on a three-year deal until June 2029.

With Matuludi now at Chloorkop and already featuring in the MTN8 final against Pirates, the Buccaneers have turned their attention to a more cost-effective, PSL-proven alternative.

That alternative is Sergio Kammies. The 28-year-old Chippa United defender has been placed on Pirates' shortlist, understandably so. A product of the renowned Ajax Cape Town academy, Kammies has built a solid reputation as a reliable and versatile operator. He represented South Africa at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup and has been part of the Bafana COSAFA Cup squad.

What makes Kammies particularly attractive to the Pirates board is his versatility. While naturally a right-back, Chippa United coach Thabo September has been deploying him as a central midfielder this season, highlighting his tactical intelligence and comfort on the ball.

His numbers back up his consistency. In the 2025/26 season, he made 24 appearances, scoring once and registering a 75% passing accuracy with an average of 0.92 tackles and 1.01 interceptions per 90 minutes. This season, he has already shown his big-game mentality, coming off the bench to score a crucial equaliser against Mamelodi Sundowns in a 1-1 draw on 12 September.

Crucially, Kammies is seen as a low-risk, affordable option. He signed a new two-year contract with Chippa until 2027, but is understood to be available in January for a reasonable fee, unlike Matuludi who commanded a premium. He is PSL proven, does not require adaptation time, and can provide cover in two positions.

When asked about the right-back crisis recently, Ouaddou remained diplomatic: "We trust our squad. Bulelani did job vs Chiefs. We will see in January. For now we focus on Sekhukhune in Carling Knockout."

Behind the scenes, however, the plan is clear. Pirates intend to bring in two right-backs in January — Kammies as the immediate, versatile cover, plus one more top-tier target who is still being actively scouted.

For a club with title ambitions, solving the right-back puzzle could be decisive.

Source; https://www.facebook.com/share/1CbRTALnae/