Former Orlando Pirates winger Mohau Nkota has reflected on the guidance he received from former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum following his shock move from Orlando Pirates to Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.
The 21-year-old dumped Pirates while on a pre-season camp in Spain last July to join Al Ettifaq after just a season of playing Betway Premiership football. It was a surprise move for the wideman, who appeared headed straight to Europe after impressing in his maiden top-flight league campaign.
But he opted to go to the Middle East, and the transfer came when his then-Pirates teammate Relebohile Mofokeng was expected to leave the PSL first. Nkota’s departure also seemed to affect Mofokeng’s game and morale earlier in the season.
But while Mofokeng has picked himself up to enjoy some terrific form, Nkota has struggled to impose himself in Saudi Arabia. The Bafana Bafana attacker has managed two goals and three assists in 19 appearances in all competitions for Al Ettifaq.
But he arrived at the Saudi side amid high expectations on him. He was in Wijnaldum’s hands, and the Dutchman guided him to settle down at the club.
WIJNALDUM’S ROLE IN NKOTA’S EARLY AL ETTIFAQ DAYS
“When I arrived, I talked to my captain, Gini Wijnaldum. He’s the one who advised me about the league and told me how things are going to go during the season,” Nkota told the Saudi Pro League.
“He said to me, ‘It’s not going to be easy, so you have to work and fight for your position. You have to always be there. Show up, show the coach that you want to play.’ He told me a lot of things that I need to show myself, who I am, where I come from, so that people can recognise me in the league.
“I didn’t know he was the captain until I asked and he told me, ‘I’m the captain here, but don’t worry, be free. Don’t be scared to make mistakes. I’m here. We are here to help you as our new teammate. We are here to help you impress and show us what you bring to the team.’”
THE SHOCK MOVE FROM PIRATES
While he was expected to go to Europe, Nkota did not hesitate to sign for a Saudi side. It is a destination associated with footballers nearing retirement and not those still harbouring ambitions of making it big in Europe.
“As Africans, not all of us want to stay in Africa and play in Africa. Most of us want to play overseas. For most of us, that’s our wish, to move at an early age, to get to experience leagues in the other countries,” added Nkota.
“I was in the national team camp, and I was called by my agent, Karabo Mathang-Tshabuse, saying there’s a club that I’m going to move to in Saudi Arabia. And then I got a call from the [Orlando Pirates] chairman [Irvin Khoza] saying it’s up to me whether I want to go or not. But I was happy about moving here.
“As Africans, we want to move; we want to explore; we want to experience countries and play in those leagues. So that’s what I did. I wanted to move; I wanted to go to other countries and play football.”
NKOTA COMING UP AGAINST CRISTIANO RONALDO
Having already rubbed shoulders with football royalty in his interactions with Wijnaldum, more is to come for Nkota. With the former Liverpool star, the Bafana winger was in the company of a UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup winner and a former Premier League champion.
Nkota is likely to share the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane when Al Ettifaq visit Al Nassr for a Saudi Pro League clash on Wednesday evening [20:00 CAT].
Watching Ronaldo, who is a forward up close and personal, might leave the former Pirates winger with a lot of attacking notes to take. He missed the opportunity to play against the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star when Al Ettifaq locked horns with Al Nassr in December, when he was at the 2025 AFCON tournament.
But now he will be hoping to be picked in the matchday squad. He already appears to be a player who is not star-struck, having faced big-name defenders like Kalidou Koulibaly and Theo Hernandez.
“Coming to play against the best centre-backs in the league, they’re very experienced,” declared Nkota.
“They know how to read the games, and they’re very good. So, it’s not easy to get past them. “I’ve learned a lot from them, playing against tough opponents who are top centre-backs who have played in the top leagues.”
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