FÉS, Morocco – Former AmaZulu FC head coach Pablo Franco Martin has revealed that Tshepang Moremi’s move to Orlando Pirates almost happened much sooner and why it was crucial for the player’s career that it didn’t.
The Spaniard, now in charge of MAS FÉS in Morocco, believes the high-profile move to the Bucs was the result of a calculated ‘process’ and a refusal to sell the player too early.
Moremi, who joined the Buccaneers at the start of the 2025/26 season, has quickly become a standout performer in Soweto. However, Martin explains that the journey to the top was not without its hurdles, including early criticism from fans and interest from big clubs that AmaZulu chose to rebuff.
AMAZULU REFUSING THE FIRST OFFER FOR MOREMI
According to Martin, the Buccaneers had identified Moremi’s talent long before the eventual transfer. “I think he took the right steps,” Martin told FARPost. “In the first season with us, Orlando Pirates already made an offer for him. We said no because we saw the potential and knew he would increase his value.”
The rise of the 25-year-old winger required a thick skin from both the player and the technical team. Martin recalled a period when many questioned why Moremi continued to receive game time despite missing clear opportunities.
In Martin’s first season at Usuthu, Moremi contributed two goals. The following season, he scored 11 goals across all competitions and provided seven assists.
“I remember at the beginning of the season, many people were criticising him and us because we gave him more chances when he was missing very clear goal-scoring chances,” Martin admitted. “We insisted because we saw the potential and how the player was developing.”
That persistence paid off in Moremi’s second season under Martin, where a mental ‘click’ led to improved accuracy and consistency. His breakthrough eventually paved the way for his dream move to Pirates and subsequent call-ups to Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana squad.
Moremi is not the only success story cited by the 45-year-old coach. Martin also pointed to Mlondi Mbanjwa, who was scouted from the National First Division, as evidence of AmaZulu’s ability to prepare players for bigger challenges.
Since joining the Buccaneers in July 2025, Moremi has already made a massive impact, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in 20 appearances across all competitions.
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