After a five-week break from club activity, the Pirates players marked their return with visits to the High-Performance Centre in Tshwane on Monday to undergo the first part of pre-season, which involves medicals and general assessments.

The 2022/23 double-champions will conclude all observations this week, before heading to Rustenburg to mark the official start of the 2023/24 pre-season schedule.

The Sea Robbers' physiotherapist Kutlwano Molefe reiterated that before the team begins with their conditioning and football work, they first need to establish a physical, physiological and psychological base that will determine the rest of the season.

"As we prepare for the season ahead, it is time to knuckle down and do all the physical and health checks because this is probably one of the most important parts of the season," Molefe said.

With the Buccaneers also set for another pre-season camp in Europe, the club will face Maccabi Tel Aviv in a friendly match on the 13th of July 2023.