Latest news with #Nkota
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Orlando Pirates held by Magesi in Maela's last game
Pirates finished the season in second place with 61 points after 28 games, while Magesi ended the season in position 12. Innocent Maela, captain of Orlando Pirates applauds the fans during the Betway Premiership 2024/25 match against Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Wednesday. Photo: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix Orlando Pirates were unable to give captain Innocent Maela a perfect send off when they were held to a 1-1 draw against Magesi FC. Maela, who will hang up his boots and take up a position within the club structures, was given a rare start in his last match for Pirates. And as he walked off the field after he was replaced by Yanga Madiba in the second half, Pirates fans gave him a standing ovation and sang his name. ALSO READ: Could the Premiership relegation battle be decided in court? The brave crowd that braved the cold weather was treated to some entertaining football and goals. Unlike in their previous three games, Pirates were at their usual best with players like Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota delighting the fans with their skill and flair. Patrick Masanganyi gave the Buccaneers a perfect start to the match by giving them the lead in as early as the seventh minute. After Pirates were awarded a free kick out wide on the left, Mofokeng cleverly laid the ball in the path of Maswanganyi who beat Elvis Chipezeze with a low shot. Nkota almost doubled Pirates' lead in the 16th minute when he outpaced the defender and unleashed a powerful shot, but this time Chipezeze managed to make a good save to deny him. Thalente Mbatha was unlucky not to score the second goal for the Buccaneers in the 26th minute after he was found by a perfect pass from Mofokeng. The midfielder took a first time shot and the ball hit the upright. Edmore Chirambadare was to make Pirates pay for these misses in the 32nd when he found the equaliser for Dikwena tsa Meetse. The Zimbabwean winger was set up by Thabang Sibanyoni and he beat Sipho Chaine with a low left-footed shot. The score was 1-1 at the break. The home side started the second half much like the first by taking the game to the visitors. They almost regained their lead in the 53rd minute through Nkota, but his long-range shot went narrowly over the crossbar. Chipezeze made sure that the visitors took a share of the spoils when he produced a great save to deny Nkota in the 72nd minute. Following the draw, Pirates finished the season in second place with 61 points after 28 games, while Magesi ended the season in position 12 after collecting 31 points from the same number of games.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Pirates' Nkota strikes to take down SuperSport United
Mohau Nkota's solitary strike gave the Buccaneers maximum points in what was a rather dull affair. Mohau Nkota of Orlando Pirates celebrates goal with team mates during the Betway Premiership match against SuperSport United at Peter Mokaba Stadium on May 20, 2025 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images) Orlando Pirates recorded a narrow 1-0 win over SuperSport United in a Betway Premiership match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night. Mohau Nkota's solitary strike gave the Buccaneers maximum points in what was a rather dull affair. Pirates move up, SuperSport stay in a relegation battle The win moves Pirates to 59 points with two matches left to play. Meanwhile, Matsatsantsa a Pitori are still embroiled in a relegation play-off battle after 26 matches. ALSO READ: All the pressure is on SuperSport as Pirates come to town SuperSport will next play Richards Bay and they still have an outstanding match against Golden Arrows, which was abandoned in February at half timew due to a power failure with the score tied at 1-1. The first half between Pirates and SuperSport proved to be a low-key affair, with neither side creating clear-cut best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes fell to Lebohang Maboe, but he blasted his left-footed effort over the bar from inside the box. Pirates were without the influential Relebohile Mofokeng due to suspension. His absence was felt as the Soweto giants lacked bite in the final third. It was a disjointed performance against a United team that was happy to play without the ball. There was a senior debut for Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Dladla, who came in for Sipho Chaine. Coincidentally, Dladla was also celebrating his 24th birthday. SuperSport shot-stopper Thakasani Mbanjwa came off his line to deny Nkota from a tight angle in the 57th minute. Nkota was set up by Tshegofatso Mabasa, who had dropped deep to collect the ball, but the move was thwarted by an outstretched hand of Mbanjwa. Kimvuidi class The introduction of Karim Kimvuidi on the hour mark gave Pirates the impetus they needed. The Congolese midfielder replaced the inefficient Kabelo Dlamini, and it didn't take long for him to come up with an assist in the 72nd minute. ALSO READ: 40-year-old Onyango dismisses retirement talk Kimvuidi went on a driving run to set up Nkota, who cut back onto his favourite left foot before smashing the ball past Mbanjwa to give Pirates the lead. Nyiko Mobbie's header hit the upright on the stroke of full-time with Dladla well beaten. It was too little, too late, as Pirates held on for all three points.
The South African
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates star wanted in Europe, club revealed
Orlando Pirates attacker Mohau Nkota is a wanted man in Europe! The 20-year-old academy graduate has enjoyed an incredible breakthrough campaign at the club. Nkota made 34 appearances for Jose Riveiro's side so far this season. The talented attacker scored six goals while assisting four more. And now, reports suggest serious interest from Belgium has emerged! READ MORE • Orlando Pirates complete deal for seven-goal PSL star! READ MORE • Kaizer Chiefs target arrived at training drunk, kicked out! According to the latest transfer gossip, Mohau Nkota is wanted by Belgian side Standard Liege. The Belgium giants have reportedly been monitoring Nkota since his days in the Orlando Pirates reserve team. And now, the club have followed up on their interest by approaching the Buccaneers for his signature! 'The interest started when he was still in the DDC and they wanted him even without trials. Now they are just making a follow-up on that interest,' an insider told Soccer Laduma . 'They have been monitoring him ever since and now they are believed to have made more enquiries because they have been impressed with his performances since the first time they saw him.' READ MORE • African goal-machine offered to BOTH Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates! Who else should Orlando Pirates allow to leave the club? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @ TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
The Star
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Relebohile Mofokeng the hero as Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs in Soweto derby
Mihlali Baleka | Published 2 hours ago The winter season is gradually creeping in, and thanks to their 'red hot' properties, Orlando Pirates are turning up the heat when it matters the most. Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng assisted and scored for Pirates as they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday. It was a much-needed win for Pirates that they bounced back to winning ways after losing back-to-back games in the CAF Champions League and Premiership. This league win also brought a much-needed boost for Pirates ahead of their follow-up derby against Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final in Durban next Saturday. Pirates will have to thank their youngsters Nkota and Mofokeng for this victory as they continued to be the team's knights in shining armour. Chiefs, though, will have to bounce back soon from this loss as they can't afford to falter in the Nedbank Cup, which is now their only chance of ending their 10-year drought. The derby was expected to produce fireworks on the pitch, keeping both sets of supporters on the pitch. And the two teams duly heeded the call. Chiefs came out flying from the blocks, taking the game to Pirates, almost driven by the impact of the impepho (a traditional incense) that was lit up by a supporter. As such, the football gods smiled on them as they were ahead within three minutes, courtesy of a goal from their talisman Makabi Lilepo. Lilepo buried from close-range from Dillan Solomons' cut-back after the wing-back reminded the sold-out crowd why he was once a sprinter after he flew down the flanks. Lilepo became the third DR Congo-born player to score after Fiston Mayele of Pyramids and Tresor Tshibwabwa Yamba, who plays for Sekhukhune United. Lilepo was like a demigod in the eye of the Chiefs fans this was his second goal in as many games, whereas The Ghost still flashed out a 'Bring Black Saleng' placard here. But for all of Chiefs' bright start, they failed to double their lead as Gaston Sirino wasted a chance from close-range, while referee Eugene Mdluli turned down a penalty call. Jose Riveiro had a restless time after his team conceded, pacing up and down the touchline like a father-to-be at a maternity ward, waiting for the birth of his son. His son was eventually born via Evidence Makgopa – the striker repaying the faith he has shown in him by beating Bruce Bvuma from close-range after Nkota's assist. While that eased Riveiro's nerves and brought The Ghost back from the dead, it brought nightmares for Bradley Cross at left back. Cross got a yellow card and the ball bypassed him en route to the goal, and that's why even his coach Nasreddine Nabi threw his arms up in agony at times. The Sea Robbers' ship was in full control thereafter, so much so that even the aeroplane that flew over this venue seemed to have nothing on them. But despite their dominance, Pirates still went into the break level with Chiefs as they couldn't find the back of the net. Bvuma had done well to keep his team in the game after tipping over Tapelo Xoki's cross, before Makgopa put his shot wide after skinning Edmilson Dove. With Pirates competing with aeroplanes in speed, a SAPS helicopter flew over the venue before the break, summing up the decreased speed of Chiefs. Amakhosi nearly got manna from heaven, though –perhaps delivered by that helicopter – as Xoki almost conceded an own goal, but Sipho Chaine saved his goal-bound shot. The Sea Robbers added another firepower to their blistering ship at halftime as Kabelo Dlamini replaced Paseka Mako. Dlamini's impact was also immediate as he ballooned a close-range shot after Mofokeng had set him up nicely in front of the box. After that Dlamini miss, Mofokeng took the onus on him to make sure that the Sea Robbers sailed to the promised land – three points . Mofokeng lobbed the ball over the wall putting in a through-ball for Deon Hotto, but after the Namibian delayed to fire away, the youngster was on hand to slot the loose ball past Bvuma. Chiefs ended the game with 10 men as Cross got his marching orders late in the game after a second booking, while 'Cocomelon football' won the game for their side.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
'Cocomelon Football' will want to set Cairo alight yet again
MOHAU Nkota. Relebohile Mofokeng. These two youngsters have fond memories of their last three visits to north Africa this season. As such when Orlando Pirates navigate their last pathway to the CAF Champions League final all eyes will be on them. Pirates will face Pyramids at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday (8pm) in the semi-final second leg on the back of a stalemate in Orlando a week ago. The Sea Robbers need to win the game or at least play to a scoring draw to sail to the last hurdle - the final of the competition since 2013. But given that they'll have Nkota and Mofokeng at their disposal that will be a double-dose of boost on top of the fact that Pyramids do not have an away goal. The 20-year-olds have made five goal contributions between them this season in north Africa, scoring four goals and registering one assist. Nkota, who was making his first international trip with the team, showed that he has nerves of steel as he scored a brace in the 2–1 win over CR Belouizdad of Algeria. The opener, which calmed his nerves, was assisted by none other than Mofokeng, who played with him during their days in the reserves. The duo might both be of the same age, and played together in the youth structures, but Mofokeng is Nkota's senior in professional football at Pirates. Mofokeng has shown vast maturity this season, even catching the eye of Bafana Bafana's coach Hugo Broos whose faith in him was rewarded in the World Cup qualifiers. Mofokeng scored on his first full start in the qualifier against Lesotho, proving why he's already head and shoulders above the rest mates. However, those who've been following in club football will tell you Mofokeng had long matured and is no stage fright - having already scored at a big clash in Egypt. Mofokeng silenced the Cairo International Stadium when he scored the opener in the 2-1 win over African's best club, Al Ahly, in Pirates' last game in the group stage. Mofokeng and Nkota's goals ensured that the team finished the group stage unbeaten as they set a date with another Algerian side, MC Alger, in the knockout stage. Nkota's love story in Algeria continued as he scored the lone goal in the first leg, resulting in the Pirates winning the tie 1-0 after the second leg in Orlando ended in a stalemate.
