Orlando Pirates might have fumbled their chances of clinching the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) in the past seasons, but they have certainly produced gems who are now household in the first team.
In 10 Years of the Diski Challenge, Pirates are among the teams that have never won the Reserve League title. During the 2021/22 and 22/23 seasons, Pirates missed the league title by a whisker when they struggled with consistency towards the finish line.
However, players such as Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng who were part of the Diski Challenge squad are now playing key roles in the senior side.
Nkota made his senior team debut in October and has already proved to be a big deal netting a brace against AmaZulu in a league match and another brace when they defeated CR Beluizdad 2-1 in the Caf Champions League.
On the other hand, Mofokeng has been the talk of the town since last season with his impressive and consistent performances.
THE PRODUCT OF DEVELOPMENT
Pirates Diski Challenge coach Joseph Makhanya said he was proud of the growth of these youngsters and gave credit to senior coaches who believed in the lads and gave them a chance.
"It really brings me happiness because I'm a product of development, I went through the ranks at Pirates and graduated, which is something which brings me pride when players graduate from the DDC squad," stated Makhanya as per iDiski Times.
"The biggest takeaway is getting them to that level where they can showcase their talent at the highest level of our football. Kudos to the bravery of those coaches, especially at that level, the integration has to be good because you get also by trying to make sure you make them when it can also break them – so it's important that they get into that level and still perform the way we know them."
"If you check how Rele was integrated, Nkota was integrated, it tells you the head coach knows what he is doing, he doesn't give them 15 minutes only, that's why Rele is being called rai toma rei fetsa (you start, you finish) because he starts and finishes matches."
After 12 matches, Pirates head to Christmas recess sitting in position seven in the Diski Challenge table.