Orlando Pirates seem to be ‘overlooking’ their youth brigade
MDC produced likes of Tau, Traoré, Lyle Foster, Ngcobo
The rivalry between the socalled big three in Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns is unmatched in SA football.
Nevertheless, despite being the greatest rivals in the local game, these teams have totally different approaches in how they go about their business.
The dissimilarities range from the styles of play to their focus on youth structures’ graduates, among so many others.
As far as the styles of play are concerned, in recent campaigns Amakhosi, under coaches like Stuart Baxter and the incumbent Ernst Middendorp, have relied heavily on set-plays, while the Brazilians have been principled on positional-based philosophy, with the Buccaneers playing through speed on the flanks.
It’s the trio’s disparity in promoting players from their MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) ranks that has been topical in the wake of Sundowns promoting Malebogo Modise, a versatile left-back, last week.
Modise, 21, became the eighth MDC product to be part of the senior team, following in the footsteps of Motjeka Madisha, Sphelele Mkhulise, Keletso Makgalwa, Nicholus Lukhubeni, Promise Mkhuma, Harold Mojadibodu and Abram Ngcobo.
With Chiefs also having promoted troops such as Happy Mashiane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Siyabonga Ngezana, Bruce Bvuma and Njabulo Blom from their Diski side in recent years, many have questioned Pirates’ faith in their own MDC side.
Utility forward Thabiso Monyane is the only Bucs MDC graduate in the senior team at present.
Innocent Maela also came through the club’s youth system but he never played in the MDC, earning his stripes via a successful loan spell at the now defunct Thanda Royal Zulu, skippering them to top-flight promotion in 2016/2017.
Pirates’ existing squad consists of big-name players who were bought at hefty prices from fellow Premiership rivals.
This means Orlando Pirates have of late shown little belief in their youth structures.
This is certainly not a matter of talent as over the past few season Bucs’ Diski side had a number of youngsters who looked worthy of first-team football, but vanished or were forced to jump ship.
The perfect example of this is Charlie Hlalele, who ended up joining AmaZulu after not making it to the senior team at the Buccaneers, despite impressing in the 2018 MDC season.
Fans have probably lost count of the number of footballers that have come through from the MultiChoice Diski Challenge to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Since its inception in August 2014, the Diski Challenge has undoubtedly been a success.
It has seen the likes of Percy Tau, Lassina Traoré, Lyle Foster, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and many more use the platform to elevate into their clubs’ respective teams.
In early 2020 Mamelodi Sundowns promoted Diski Challenge team captain promise Mkhuma to the first team.
Mkhuma is in Rustenburg with the first team as they prepare to complete the Absa Premiership campaign which was halted by the coronavirus in March.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has been raving about the lad.
“He is training very well while slowly adjusting to the intensity of the game here and is finding his feet.
“It’s OK, we have time and patience for it because he is a young player,” the most successful coach in the PSL said.
With the league set to resume the 2019/2020 campaign on August 11, clubs have promoted more players from their Diski Challenge teams to the first team.
A tally of 19 players have been roped into respective first teams as they head to the bio-bubble camp in Gauteng where the season will be completed.
Sundowns recently tied down Malebogo Modise, giving him a five-year contract.
Having promoted Rowan Human and Solly Khunyedi to the first team earlier in the season, the Clever Boys revealed on Friday that another eight youngsters had been training with the first team.
Lisakhanya Mlonyeni, Mpho Mathebula, Cuwen Prince, Kabelo Makola, Janovane September, Deon Horn, Malik Mashinini and Keenan Phillips were all promoted.
The club said: “With the aim of finishing the top-flight season on a high and taking the number of fixtures in quick succession into consideration, head coach Gavin Hunt has rewarded eight academy players with a chance at first-team football.”
Baroka FC and Cape Town City also promoted five players each and these individuals are training with their respective first teams.
Baroka promoted Thuso Mogale, Bernard Bobete, Nimrod Mpe, Tshego Molapo and Job Maphutha, while the Citizens have roped in Olwethu Nyembe, Taahir Goedeman, Zaakir Allie, Zuko Mdunyelwa and Jarred van der Burg.
He is training very well while slowly adjusting to the intensity of the game here and is finding his feet