Pirates sign six: including Nigeria's answer to Mario Balotelli

Always a Pirate: Onyekachi Okonkwo

ORLANDO PIRATES have re-signed Nigeria’s answer to Mario Balotelli – the tough-talking, ref-threatening, contract-breaking Onyekachi Okonkwo.

The big Irvin Khoza press conference was everything Buccaneers fans might have hoped for with SIX new players added to the double-treble champions’ squad in a single stroke – and the promise of “more to come” from the Iron Duke.

But hold on… what happened to the Zimbabwean striker Takesure Chinyama, just a medical short of signing for the Sea Robbers last week? Up north, they were telling us he was leaving Dynamos after being offered R100,000-a-month to join the South African champions.

Instead, we were offered midfielder Onekachi Donatus Okonkwo who begins his second spell in Soweto after leaving the club in 2007 in the days before silverware came in threes.

“Tico”, who has spent the last five years scoring goals in the contrasting surroundings of Switzerland and Qatar, grinned: “Once a Pirates, always a Pirate, that’s what they always say!

“Even when I was playing overseas with FC Zurich and Al Kharaitiyat, I always stayed in touch with the chairman.”

In a move which has distinct parallels with the return of Siyabonga Nkosi to Kaizer Chiefs, Okonkwo, at 30 the same age as Nkosi, adds: “This club has always been close to my heart. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the Ghost again.

“But although I’ve played here before, to come back to Pirates after five years abroad will be  challenge - it’s a completely different to the team I left behind in 2007. But Augusto Palacios is still here!”

Okonkwo is yet another cog in the machine Khoza is putting together to make a real run at the African Champions League next season – he won it with Nigeria's Enyimba as a youngster in 2003 and 2004. He also scored against his old club when Pirates reached the semi-finals in 2006.

But Okonkwo doesn’t come without a reputation for Balotelli-style controversy. In August 2006, during a Telkom Charity Cup match against Bloemfontein Celtic, Okonkwo was red-carded but refused to go, threatening to beat up referee Daniel Bennett. He was eventually dragged off by his Pirates team-mates. He also had a reputation for going AWOL when he went on various trials in Europe.

When he went to Europe, “Tico” had signed a pre-contract agreement with German side FC Koln but after a week, he disappeared and signed a four-year deal at Swiss side FC Zurich.

Okonkwo said he only agreed to a trial at Koln with their sporting director Klaus Horstmann threatening to take the matter to FIFA.

He joined Al Kharitiyath in the summer of 2010 and sad yesterday: “I did have options after Qatar in France and Belgium but European football can be stressful. This is where it started for me, and I'm happy to be back home.

“This club has always been close to my heart. I'm happy to be here where I can hopefully finish off my career.”

The press conference also starred five other players who have signed three-year deals for Pirates.

Patrick Phungwayo, signed from Wits (the Clever Boys are soon to be know as the Intellegent Older Gentlemen), young Khethowakhe Masuku from Black Leopards, Siya Mngoma from Amatuks plus Free States Stars duo Ayanda Gcaba and Manti Moholo. Quite what’s happening with Bloemfontein Celtic’ centre-back Eric Mathoho remains mystery, though Pirates have withdrawn their interest as Chiefs and Sundowns battle it out for the Tower.

Gcaba said: “I will always be grateful to Stars, I’d been there four years and they allowed me to move on. I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

The Iron Duke told us: “We have had protected discussions over the last six months, with Isaac Chansa leaving (for China), we felt that it was important to replace him.

“We can't reveal secrets... we are still the best in the market, those who desire happiness and success must be prepared for war.

“Everybody is reinforcing. We are not done yet.

“There are still more players signing.”

Okonkwo’s career in a nutshell:

2004-2007       Orlando Pirates              43 games, 3 goals

2007-2010       FC Zurich                      62      (2)

2010-2012       Al Kharitiyath                 39      (5)

2006-2008       Nigeria                            9       (0)

His Christian name Onyekachi, means "Who is greater than his godly guarding?" 

Lucky Lekgwathi exclusive: How Orlando Pirates made history

NEO MONYETSANE, eTV Sunrise's news reader and sports editor, is the man I have to thank this morning. Not only did Neo and his flat-mate Sephiri Molusi entertain the gang royally on Saturday night, Neo also managed to sneak in a text to Orlando Pirates between their epic title defence and Chelsea's streaky Champions League win.

As a result, when I turned up to do Classic Play in the pre-dawn darkness, Neo came rushing over: "Lucky Lekgwathi is coming in!"

And that was it. After over a year of great broadcasting with the Sunrise crew, we were off to our best Monday morning ever. The first South African broadcaster to interview the champions' captain with the coveted trophy.

The 35-year-old Bucca-Bucca hero was superb. Quietly spoken, modest, knowledgeable, frank.

Our session with Stacey Holland and Lenn Moleko on Classic Play oozed inside information and from-the-horse's-mouth detail.

Lucky, scorer of the first goal in Saturday's 4-2 win over Golden Arrows at a packed Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, told us: "When we went 2-1 down, we didn't panic. We were nervous but we knew we had to concentrate on our game. We knew a win would see us retain the title. We showed character, we have that at Pirates. We did the job."

Did they. After Lekgwathi's diving header - a classic in reading the game before the defenders - Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs blundered to let Dylan Sheppard's soft effort under his body, then former Buccaneer Katlego Mashego curled home a beauty to blow the South African title race wide open, just as I'd hoped for the past seven weeks.

Pirates responded through the excellent Siyabonga Sangweni and we were level at half-time. Lucky recalled: "We knew what we had to do. Go out and win it in the second half. For the family, for the fans."

Ironically, as Moroka Swallows desperately sought the winner at the Harry Gwala stadium against Maritzburg United 40 minutes away, Benni McCarthy was beginning to tire. Just like that other 34-year-old Didier Drogba in Munich a few hours later, Benni looked finished.

But then, just as Swallows produced the Lefa Tutsulupa goal that would have won them the title on goal difference, McCarthy got his head on a long throw to put Pirates in front. Stunning.

But still, Pirates were one accurate Arrow from disaster. Until Benni struck again, his tenth goal of the season, this time another stunning free-kick. Game over. Title over. Season over.

Gordon Igesund, who will be named ABSA coach of the season this week, and 20-goal top scorer Siyabonga Nomvethe, who will be named player of the season, both slumped when the news filtered through. Like Manchester City's epic title triumph over old rivals United the week before, Swallows had to accept the runners-up spot. Not bad for a side of rejects, alcoholics and veterans who narrowly avoided relegation last season.

For Lekgwathi and pals, McCarthy had sealed a sixth trophy in less than two years. Lucky, born in Ga-Rankuwa north of Pretoria, grinned: "When I joined Pirates in 2002 Augusto Palacios was my first coach. We didn't win a trophy for nine years. Now my arms are tired from lifting the cups!"

And what of McCarthy, the hero of the hour while his former club West Ham were propelling themselves back in to the Premier League? He arrived in South Africa at the start of the season with Upton Park's chairwoman Karren Brady calling him a fat failure. Has there ever been a more complete recovery?

Lekgwathi grinned: "Benni has been an inspiration since he arrived. He motivates on the pitch. And he still scores goals. He's been brilliant for us."

For Lekgwathi, at 35, there is talk of retirement. I pointed out Ryan Giggs is still going at 40. Lucky smiled: "I will try to do that. I'm still in good shape. There are more seasons left in these legs."

Throughout the two appearances on eTV and eNews, we were plagued by eager workers trying to get a picture of the Pirates skipper and the silverware he lifts with such panache. He never shirked a fan, never stopped smiling.

The man is a giant. His last-gasp goal against SuperSport United was the strike that scuppered my prediction that Moroka Swallows would come from nowhere to snatch the title. Yet, as I pointed out last week here, his name appears nowhere on the list of ABSA nominations.

My player of the season? Lehlohonolo “Lucky” Lekgwathi. But he can't win it if he hasn't been nominated, so Nomvethe will sweep the boards with his epic 20 goals for Swallows.

And on the thorny question of caretaker boss Augusto Palacios remaining in charge next season? Can Pirates really send him back to coach the juniors after firing championship-winning Ruud Krol last season? For the answer to that, you'll have to read my Neal & Pray column in www.thenewage.co.za tomorrow. It's not long to wait...