Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has identified three standout stars from the club’s DStv Diski Challenge title-winning side who have caught his eye as the Buccaneers gear up for the new campaign at their European pre-season camp in Spain.
Speaking from Spain, the former English Premier League defender unpacked the immense qualities of Christian Derbyshire, Mpho Padime, and Simphiwe Masilela, declaring the three starlets as central to the Buccaneers’ ongoing legacy of unleashing elite, refined youth talent into the professional ranks.
The DDC trio is part of the Buccaneers squad currently in Marbella, Spain, for pre-season training camp. They were invited to train with the first team after impressive performances in helping Pirates win the reserve league last season.
Derbyshire is a 20-year-old centre-back who is waiting for a big break while lurking in the shadows of more established central defenders. He sits on the pecking order below the likes of club captain Nkosinathi Sibisi, a fit-again Tapelo Xoki, Lebone Seema, Mpho Chabatsane and Sbangani Zulu, who was recently signed from Richards Bay FC and can also play in midfield.
Padime [18] and Masilela [21] are fighting to get recognition in a packed Pirates midfield, with the former also at home as a winger. It remains to be seen if they will be able to use the Spain camp to muscle themselves into Ouaddou’s season plans.
A NEW WAVE OF PIRATES TALENT WALKING THE PATH OF MOFOKENG, MBOKAZI AND NKOTA
In recent seasons, Pirates have produced youngsters who have gone on to take South African football by storm. Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Mohau Nkota were promoted from the DDC into the Buccaneers’ first team and are all now turning out for overseas clubs.
Ouaddou says the club is continuing with what he says is a culture of refining raw talent into professional footballers by promoting Derbyshire, Padime and Masilela, whose qualities he waxes lyrical about.
“I think it’s a process of the club. Pirates are well known for giving chances to young players, and we have a lot of examples like Nkota, Mofokeng and Mbokazi,” Ouaddou said on SuperSportBET.
“So, we would like to continue with this culture, this legacy. We try to bring some players with us. We try to improve them and give them some game time because it’s important for them to play at a high level. It’s what we want.
OUADDOU UNPACKS QUALITIES POSSESSED BY PIRATES DDC TRIO
The former Fulham defender also has the likes of Cemran Dansin and Simphiwe Selepe, who both rose from the DDC into the first team in recent years. He goes on to explain what he has seen in the latest graduates.
“If I have to tell you who has impressed me, it’s three of them. We have Chris, and I think he has a bright future. He has a lot of qualities,” Ouaddou said.
“We can take Padime as well. He is a young player who has a lot of qualities in one-on-one situations; he can dribble past anybody. But at the same time, we have to teach them about when they have to carry the ball and eliminate and when they have to be simpler in the heart of the game.
“Of course, Masilela is brave as well. He has a good touch, and he is very powerful. He can imbalance a defence.
“But again, we have to teach him when to place the ball, when to carry the ball, because he is playing in one area where there is a lot of play, and you need to make quick decisions. An area where you need to scan and know before receiving the ball what you are going to do with the ball. So, it’s very important.”
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