Orlando Pirates have snapped up Malawian defender Limbikani Mzava from the now sold Mpumalanga Black Aces, Sowetan has learnt.

Mzava, 22, joined Aces last July and the length of the contract was not revealed at the time, but according to John Comitis - who has purchased Aces - the player will not be part of the club any longer as he is heading to Pirates.

"He is going to Pirates," Comitis revealed when asked if the defender would be one of the 15 Aces players who are set to join his new side, to be based in Cape Town in the new season.

Called for confirmation on the Mzava link, Pirates administrator Floyd Mbele said he was not aware that the Buccaneers had signed the highly rated defender. "I haven't picked up anything from this side," Mbele said.

Mzava couldn't be reached for comment.

Comitis, meanwhile, confirmed that he has retained 15 players after buying Aces, including the likes of Jackson Mabokgwane, Shu-Aib Walters, Vincent Kobola, Lebohang Manyama, Sibusiso Masina and Judas Moseamedi.

AmaZayoni were expected to keep most of their players after ending the season in fourth place, but Comitis said it was always going to be a difficult task with the club changing ownership.

"What happened is there were 15 players that still have contracts, so those contracts have to continue with me. That was Aces' condition [of the sale] - that all players [under contract] have to be taken care of," Comitis explained.

"There were about eight players whose contracts were coming to an end and needed renewal. Because they were selling they didn't renew those contracts so those players are free and I wasn't in a position to negotiate with anyone because there was still a process to approve the deal.

"I didn't want to commit with players and the next minute I don't have a deal," he added.

Players heading out include veteran striker Collins Mbesuma, Thanduyise Khuboni, Bafana Nhlapho and Ashraf Hendricks.