Thapelo Mokobodi’s agent, Nimrod Mbhalati of Nida Sports Agency, has weighed in on what has helped his client integrate seamlessly into the Orlando Pirates squad.
Mokobodi joined the Buccaneers during the current transfer window from Cape Winelands outfit Stellenbosch FC.
The 23-year-old central midfielder put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Soweto giants and has hit the ground running with impressive performances.
So far, Mokobodi has featured in seven matches across all competitions for the Sea Robbers, chipping in with one goal.
To prove his immediate impact, Mokobodi earned the Man of the Match accolade on August 29, 2026, following Pirates’ 3–0 win over Sekhukhune United in the MTN8 semi-final second leg at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
HOW THAPELO MOKOBODI SETTLED FAST AT ORLANDO PIRATES
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FARPost, Mbhalati highlighted the club’s tactical approach as the primary driver behind Mokobodi’s swift adaptation.
“I think it is the style of play that made him settle well at Pirates, you know,” Mbhalati told FARPost. “He is also a ball-playing midfielder who likes to be on the ball. If you check Pirates’ midfielders, they are the types of midfielders who are always on the ball rather than chasing the opponents.
“So, as much as he [Thapelo Mokobodi] didn’t do pre-season with them, I personally believe that it is the style of play of Orlando Pirates, which suits his style of play too.”
Mbhalati further noted that Mokobodi’s prior working relationship with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou at Marumo Gallants may have contributed, though he stressed that selection remains strictly merit-based.
“Also, the fact that he worked with Abdeslam Ouaddou before at Marumo Gallants might be another case, but I’m not too sure because I’m not at training with the team every day,” Mbhalati added.
“However, at the end of the day, I believe Orlando Pirates is a big club and a huge institution in the sense that even if he worked with the coach before, if he doesn’t deserve to play, I don’t think the coach will field him.
“So, it’s a 50/50 chance; maybe he played a huge role because they worked together before. But I believe it’s because the coach sees what he wants to see in the boy. If he wasn’t doing enough at training, they wouldn’t play him. This means that he adjusted and gelled well with the other players quickly.”
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