EXCLUSIVE: Orlando Pirates Assessing Zambia's Andrew Phiri

FC MUZA and Chipolopolo striker Andrew Phiri could be the latest Zambian since 2022 to play for South African outfit Orlando Pirates.

Last week, Phiri trekked to the Johannesburg side, where he has been attending trials for the last five days.

MUZA chief executive officer Joel Kabika has revealed to Bolanews exclusively that the player is being courted by the former Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions and will be training with them for the next 10 days.

“I can confirm that he is out attending trails yes,” Kabika told Bolanews. “He will be away for the next 10 days.”

Kabika said nothing has been agreed yet.

“They are still assessing him; nothing has been agreed,” he said.

Pirates are not a strange destination for Zambian players. Some of the biggest names on the Zambian scene have graced the Soweto club.

Some of the big names that have played for Pirates are Isaac Chansa, Collins Mbesuma, Perry Mutapa and Davies Mwape.

In recent history, the late Justin Shonga and Chipolopolo striker Augustine Mulenga have donned the black jersey of the legendary club.

The last Zambian player to have played for Pirates is Power Dynamos midfielder Austine Muwowo, who, however, did not enjoy a very good spell there.

Muwowo joined Pirate in 2019 from Forest Rangers but failed to make an impact, as he only played four games between 2019 and 2022 when he eventually left for Zesco United.

That spell was also characterised by a loan spell at Swallows, where he only played six league games without any meaningful impact.