Orlando Pirates have arrived in Marbella, Spain for their 12-day pre-season camp, with new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou picking a 32-man squad for the camp.
The Buccaneers travel to Spain for the second successive year, having collected some impressive results in pre-season last year.
“Orlando Pirates have officially arrived in Spain to begin their preparations for the 2025/26 season. The first team touched down at Málaga International Airport this afternoon before making the short journey to the coastal city of Marbella, where they will be based for the next two weeks,” the club stated.
“With newly appointed Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou at the helm, the Buccaneers will use the 12-day camp to build cohesion, integrate new signings, and lay the groundwork for what promises to be another demanding campaign.
“The technical team has brought a 32-man squad to Marbella, with a series of high-intensity friendlies lined up to test the team’s readiness.”
Assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi told Orlandopiratesfc.com: “We’ve just arrived in Spain after a long flight. Today is about recovery, but from tomorrow it’s all systems go. The upcoming season will be tough, so our preparation must cover all possible scenarios.
“Last season’s group played 52 matches—that kind of workload is only manageable with a well-planned pre-season. We have a new crop of players that we need to integrate into the group as
quickly as possible.”
Pirates have confirmed four pre-season friendlies during their time in Spain.
- 11 July: Bolton Wanderers
- 13 July: Pafos FC
- 17 July: Las Palmas
- 19 July: Granada
