How Mofokeng and Mabasa influenced Nkota’s rise to prominence at Pirates
Orlando Pirates young winger Mohau Nkota has revealed how Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshegofatso Mabasa influenced his rise to prominence at the club.
Nkota is in his breakthrough season with the Buccaneers after gaining promotion from the club’s DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side at the start of the current campaign.
The 20-year-old made his debut in the Betway Premiership for Pirates against Richards Bay FC in October 2024. Since breaking into the Pirates first team, Nkota showcased his abilities to assist and score goals.
Nkota opened his scoring account for the Soweto giants after netting a brace during a 2-1 victory over AmaZulu FC at Orlando Stadium on the 25th of October 2024.
The left-footed attacker went on to score another two goals against CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League group stages to take his goal-tally in all competitions to four goals.
WHAT MOHAU NKOTA SAID ABOUT MABASA AND MOFOKENG’S INFLUENCE
In an interview on Pirates TV, the Kimberly-born rising star has disclosed that Mabasa urged him to use the opportunity he was given by the coach Jose Riveiro.
“There is someone that I speak to every day, who is Tshegofatso Mabasa. He came to me and told me that I should use the opportunity that I was given by the coach [Jose Riveiro] to be in the starting line-up,” Nkota said.
“And before playing the game against AmaZulu, I phoned my mother to tell her that I’m in the starting line-up. She told me that I was going to score. So when the moment came to score against AmaZulu, I remembered that in the DDC I used to score outside of the box.
“So after I made a turn outside the box against AmaZulu, I took the shot and saw it going to the top corner. After scoring, I didn’t even have a celebration, and I just ran to the coach to thank him for giving me the opportunity.”
Nkota also praised Mofokeng for guiding him in seeing the difference between the senior team and the development. The Bafana Bafana international was also promoted from the DDC in 2022.
“I thank Rele because in everything that I do, he’s been one of those people who support me. When I’m not okay, he would talk to me and tell me that the environment we are in is different because he was also in the same situation.”
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