Mohau Nkota is back at Orlando Pirates, but returning to the starting XI could prove much harder than simply walking back through the door.
The 21-year-old winger has returned to Soweto on loan from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq until the end of the season, giving the Buccaneers another exciting attacking option.
However, Nkota has competition waiting for him.
With Orlando Pirates winger Tshepang Moremi firmly established as one of coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s trusted players, Nkota will have to prove that he can offer more than attacking flair if he wants to reclaim a regular starting role.
Moremi has set the standard
Since joining Pirates from AmaZulu ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, Moremi quickly established himself as a first-choice player.
The Sharpeville-born winger made 28 appearances in his debut season, producing five goals and four assists.
His impact has continued this campaign. Despite recently spending time on the sidelines through injury, Moremi has already scored three goals in seven appearances.
But his value to Ouaddou’s team extends beyond the final third.
Moremi has averaged 33.95 passes per 90 minutes while maintaining an impressive 82.83% pass-completion rate. Those numbers underline his contribution to Pirates’ possession game and help explain why the coach has placed so much trust in him.
Nkota must match the intensity
For Nkota, the biggest challenge may not simply be producing goals and assists.
Ouaddou demands considerable work without the ball, particularly when Pirates are pressing opponents. That is an area where Moremi has already demonstrated his value.
In seven matches this season, Moremi has recorded 22 tackles and eight interceptions, showing that his contribution does not stop when Pirates lose possession.
Nkota will therefore need to demonstrate that he can combine his natural creativity and attacking ability with the defensive discipline required by Ouaddou’s system.
A battle for more than just a starting place
Nkota has the talent to make a serious impact after returning to Pirates, but the path to the starting XI is now competitive.
Moremi has established a clear benchmark through his goals, assists, passing numbers and defensive work. Nkota must now show that he can either match those standards or offer something different that gives Ouaddou a reason to change his preferred combination.
The timing could hardly be more interesting, with Pirates preparing for a major MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 10 October at 18:00.
For Nkota, the message is simple: the opportunity is there, but the starting shirt has to be earned.
Will Mohau Nkota win his place back, or should Tshepang Moremi remain the first-choice winger?
