Owen Da Gama Full of Praise for Orlando Pirates Starlets After Draw with Magesi FC
Magesi FC head coach Owen Da Gama had high praise for Orlando Pirates’ rising stars Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota after their sides played out a 1-1 draw on Wednesday evening. The encounter, part of the ongoing domestic competition calendar, saw both teams display moments of quality, but it was the individual brilliance of the young Buccaneers that caught Da Gama’s attention.
Speaking after the match, Da Gama did not hold back in acknowledging the talent on display from the Pirates’ dynamic duo, who have been making headlines with their consistent growth and performances this season.
“Those two boys are special. Mofokeng and Nkota bring something different to the game – energy, flair, intelligence on the ball,” Da Gama said. “You can see they’ve been coached well, and what stands out is how fearless they are in possession. They gave our defenders a real challenge.”
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Mofokeng, who has gradually cemented his place in Pirates’ starting lineup, continued to impress with his composure and decision-making in tight spaces. Meanwhile, Nkota showed glimpses of his potential with driving runs and intelligent link-up play that had Magesi’s defence working overtime.
“Mofokeng, especially, has matured beyond his years. He’s always scanning, always involved in the build-up. Nkota, on the other hand, is unpredictable, which makes him so difficult to defend against,” Da Gama added. “If they continue on this path, the sky’s the limit for both of them.”
The match itself saw Pirates dominate large spells of possession, but Magesi held their own with disciplined defending and capitalised on a rare counterattack to secure a valuable draw. The result may not have delivered a clear winner, but it did offer another showcase of the young talent emerging from the Orlando Pirates camp.
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Pirates’ focus on youth development has paid dividends this season, with both Mofokeng and Nkota becoming regular contributors in the senior team’s plans. Their chemistry on the pitch has been building with each game, and Wednesday’s performance only reinforced their rising status in the local game.
As for Magesi FC, Da Gama remains optimistic about his team’s progress but acknowledged the quality that top-tier teams like Pirates bring to the table.
“We stood our ground and showed character,” he said. “It was never going to be easy against a side with that much quality and depth, but I’m proud of how our players responded.”
With several games remaining in the campaign, all eyes will remain on Mofokeng and Nkota to see if they can maintain their form and help Pirates push for silverware—while Da Gama and Magesi look to build on strong performances against the league’s giants.
