Kamogelo Sebelebele’s Discovery Story: From Rejection to Orlando Pirates Rising Star

Kamogelo Sebelebele’s rise to prominence has been anything but easy. The 21-year-old midfielder, now shining at Orlando Pirates, was once overlooked by several clubs before TS Galaxy FC handed him his first real chance three years ago. Today, he is proving those doubters wrong with impressive performances in the Premier Soccer League.

Sebelebele has already scored two goals in his first four appearances for the Buccaneers this season. His energy, pace, and composure in front of goal have made him one of the most exciting young players to watch.

Innocent Chikoya, the man credited with discovering and grooming Sebelebele, shared the untold story of his journey. Chikoya, a former Pirates left-back and ex-head coach at Gauteng-based Shumba Football Development Academy, revealed that the winger’s success was built on years of consistency and hard work.

“When I talk about Mike, I’m referring to a player I groomed for five years at Shumba Football Academy. He played in the GDL U-17, U-19, and SAB teams before moving to Tembisa, where TS Galaxy signed him for their under-19 side,” said Chikoya.

According to Chikoya, Sebelebele’s talent was evident from the start. “What he is doing now, he was consistently doing before. He scored three to four goals per match. His first hat-trick was against SuperSport United, where he scored four goals in the U-17 division. One-on-one, he is unstoppable. He can push the ball past you and be gone. Out of five chances, Mike will score four.”

Despite this, many PSL teams overlooked him when Shumba Academy reached out for trials. Chikoya believes this highlights a broader challenge facing grassroots football development. “We even approached some PSL teams to consider Mike, but they turned a blind eye. The problem is that when we develop these boys and invite coaches to take a look, people often ignore us,” he explained.

For Chikoya, the current excitement around Sebelebele is just the beginning. He insists that Pirates fans have not yet seen the best of the speedy attacker. “There will be more goals. I used to play him anywhere in the attacking positions. He has the ability to change games.”

Sebelebele’s progress is now under the spotlight as Orlando Pirates prepare for the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday. He scored a vital goal in the first leg that ended 1-1, and his performance could prove decisive in helping the Buccaneers reach the final.

From being overlooked to becoming one of Pirates’ key players, Sebelebele’s journey stands as proof of the importance of persistence and proper development pathways. If his current form continues, the young midfielder could soon cement his place among South Africa’s most promising football stars.