Orlando Pirates appear to have pulled out of the race to sign Thamsanqa Mkhize following the arrival of new coach Muhsin Ertugral.

Mkhize had been training with the Bucs squad and was believed to have passed a medical with the side following his Maritzburg United exit. Now, however, a source has revealed he no longer fits in with the club’s plans.

‘It’s true that the deal of Mkhize to Pirates will no longer happen,’ the source told KickOff.

‘The coach Muhsin Ertugral felt he is not someone he is currently looking for. The player trained once with the team and he did pass the medical but he will no longer be signing with the club.’

The player’s agent Sizwe Ntshangase was reluctant to discuss what went wrong with the deal but did reveal discussions with the club were still ongoing.

‘We will speak to Pirates on Monday to hear the way forward,’ Ntshangase said. ‘But we are open with other teams who are interested in the player and life goes on.’

Ntshangase made 17 appearances in the Premiership last term, scoring once.