Orlando Pirates legend Joseph Makhanya proud of role in developing Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng - 'I watched the Champions League and it was nice to see them combining'

It has been a while since Orlando Pirates introduced teenagers who have made a significant impact in the league and even continental competitions.

Since Joseph Makhanya took over the Bucs reserve side, he has given senior coach Jose Riviero two talented youngsters, Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota.

Duku-Duku, who spent over a decade playing for the club, spoke highly of his pride in seeing these two young players excel.

The 43-year-old is thrilled to see his former players thriving in the professional ranks.

He believes that Mofokeng and Nkota’s performances highlight the strength of the club’s youth development system and emphasized how crucial it is for young players to have the right mentorship and opportunities.

His admiration for the duo's progress was clear during the media session.

“I’m impressed with how [Nkota] has settled,” Makhanya explained to the media after the Black Label Cup presser as reported by Sowetan.

“Football is all about consistency and I hope he stays true to it and works even harder because the more you are getting results it means you need to work harder to remain consistent. I hope he becomes consistent in his approach because the level is up a bit, meaning now, every week teams will be planning against him and he needs to sharpen his skills and become a player that we foresee."

“They have shown us that they can do the job, they went to big matches, Rele scored a winner against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final and went on to score against Stellenbosch [MTN8 final],” he said.

“What pleases me the most is that there is a belief, especially in youth, where you see other teams are giving them an opportunity to show their talent, and that's what we've always hoped for. Even big teams are now starting to give them a chance.

"I watched Pirates when they were playing in the Champions League. It was nice to see Nkota and Mofokeng combining to score goals, especially at that level. As coaches from DDC, we are very proud of what is happening.”

The two 20-year-olds, Mofokeng and Nkota, have been combining to become a real menace to opposition defenses.

In the opening game of Orlando Pirates' Caf Champions League campaign, Mofokeng registered two assists to Nkota.

This partnership is beginning to show how the DDC league is producing quality young players for top-tier teams.

As the duo continue to impress, their success underlines the importance of giving youth players a chance in the first team.

The rising talents could set a new precedent for teams to invest in youth and development.

The Buccaneers now face a tough challenge against Al Ahly at home in the Caf Champions League.

Orlando Pirates will be eager to add another win to their record and keep their momentum going in the group stages.

With Mofokeng and Nkota showing great promise, the team is in a strong position to challenge for top honors.

The match against the Red Devils will be pivotal, and a victory will boost their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds of the competition.

Fans will be hoping that the young duo continue to shine and deliver for the team on this grand stage.