South Africa

The stocky forward joined the Mamelodi Sundowns Development Academy before moving on to Cape Town All Stars. Mako’s talent catapulted him straight to the professional league when Chippa United spotted and contracted the rising star, before Orlando Pirates came knocking in 2018. Paseka aims to add CAF Champions League appearances to his player profile and… read more »

Born in Mokopane, Thabiso played his first professional game for Baroka FC in 2011. Being a player who likes to score, he says playing for Pirates is “a dream made real”, and his ambition is to be one of the best players in the team. During his free time, he loves to be indoors playing… read more »

Thamsanqa Gabuza: Growing up in Ladysmith, Ganda Ganda’s hard work ethic was initially scouted by Durban Stars, before he made his move to Maritzburg City and then to Golden Arrows. With an exceptional work rate, the striker says: “It is a blessing and an honour to be playing for the Orlando Pirates badge”. Outside soccer,… read more »

Lyle was initially scouted by Augusto Palacios before he had the chance to trial with the Orlando Pirates Academy at the tender age of 12. Since then, “Castro” has featured in every division within the Club’s development and was recently, and deservedly, promoted to the first team. His first professional appearance was against Maritzburg United,… read more »

After playing in the Jomo Cosmos Academy at the age of 15, “Viera” was promoted at 18 to their first team and he played his first professional game for Cosmos against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2009. His ambitions at Orlando Pirates are to win the league and to be part of the history of the success… read more »

Thabo Qalinge: Coming from Soweto, “Section 10” started his professional career at Mpumalanga Black Aces after being scouted by Clive Barker, and then made the big move to join Orlando Pirates. Thabo Qalinge remembers very well his first game, as it was against Kaizer Chiefs at the Mbombela Stadium – his favourite stadium. A big music… read more »

After having been spotted in his neighbourhood, Musa started thinking of football as a career when he started at the Bidvest Wits Academy. He signed his first professional contract at Thanda Zulu Royal FC and played his first ever PSL game against Kaizer Chiefs, winning the encounter 1-0. Having played for Maritzburg United, Mamelodi Sundowns,… read more »

Small-town boy Marshall Munetsi grew up in Mabvuku, Harare. After seeing Patrick Vieira conquer the midfield at Arsenal, Marshall was inspired to start playing football at the tender age of 6 years old. Munetsi joined a local football team in Harare called Ali Sundowns Juniors before he moved on to the Zimbabwean U17 National Team… read more »

Ben Motshwari is a South African footballer who started his football journey in 2013 while on trial at Bidvest Wits. With his impressive work ethic and natural leadership qualities, it came as no surprise when The Clever Boys signed him the following year. Ben joined Orlando Pirates in 2018 after three seasons with Wits and… read more »

Linda Mntambo is a South African soccer player who plays for Orlando Pirates. After matriculating in 2006, Linda Mntambo went from being a waiter to working in a packaging company while playing for Black Poison FC, before being spotted by Roses United five years later. He went on to star for Jomo Cosmos and Chippa… read more »

While living the dream of every young South African footballer, playing for Orlando Pirates, Asavela hopes to achieve many honours during his stay. The hard-working midfielder has had his fair share of professional football experience as his career saw him at Mamelodi Sundowns, Chippa United and Moroka Swallows before joining the Mighty Buccaneers. Football isn’t… read more »

Xola Mlambo aka ‘Ten Ten’ started playing football from a very early age, leading to his move to join Meadowland FC where he was selected to represent Gauteng in the SAB U21 Tournament. In 2011, Xola was scouted by Augustine Makalakalane to join North West University on a three year bursary. In his final year of… read more »

Luvuyo Memela: A quiet player who gives 120% everyday, the attacking player was spotted when he was playing for NFD Club, Cape Town All Stars. Luvuyo Memela wants to achieve a lot with the Bucs and make history that people will remember. Luvuyo is a big fan of Spanish player Antonio Reyes. SA

Born in Alexandra, “Bibo” was spotted by Free State Stars in 2008 in the Walter Sisulu Tournament. His first professional game for Stars was against Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup, and was a great feeling for him because it was the first time his mother came to see him playing live. The South African… read more »

Thoroughbred Augustine Mahlonoko made his way to the Orlando Pirates Development Academy after being scouted at Augusto Palacious Academy in his early teens. The promising midfielder started turning heads in the Club’s U17 squad and at the Gauteng Future Champs before making his record-breaking professional debut for the Bucs in August 2018. The youngest Pirates… read more »