Nkosikhona Ndaba Impresses on Orlando Pirates Debut Against Orbit College

Nkosikhona Ndaba received high praise after making his debut for Orlando Pirates in their 1-0 win over Orbit College FC on Tuesday. The victory moved the Buccaneers into the top half of the Betway Premiership standings.

Orbit College, a newly promoted side, showed determination and pressed high throughout the match but ultimately fell short at Orlando Stadium. The game was decided by a second-half strike from Lebone Seema.

Ndaba came on at the start of the second half, replacing Deon Hotto, and quickly made an impact. The 23-year-old left-back drew widespread acclaim for his composure, attacking intent, and defensive contributions.

“Honestly speaking, the Orbit boys played a superb game. It’s just that the substitutions the Pirates coach made in the second half made a big difference,” said former striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane. “In the first half, we didn’t look like we wanted to play or score. Orbit pressed us well, but the introduction of players like Sipho Mbule and Ndaba was crucial.”

Mbuyane singled out Ndaba’s performance, praising his ability to support attacks while maintaining defensive stability. “Ndaba played excellently. We needed a left-back of his calibre. I rate him very highly. In our next game, the coach must work on selecting his starting line-up. Ndaba is not bench material. He deserves to start,” he added.

The former striker compared Ndaba to some of the best left-backs in South African football history. “He is on the same level as Lucas Thwala, Innocent Mdledle, and Patrick Phungwayo in terms of talent. He is unafraid to push forward, and his recovery was excellent. If he continues to focus on his game, he will go far,” Mbuyane said.

While Orlando Pirates have yet to find full consistency this season, Ndaba’s strong debut provides a boost for the squad. His performance offers head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou another reliable option at left-back as the team aims to climb the league table.