Mohau Nkota has returned to Soweto, but reclaiming his place in the Orlando Pirates starting line-up will be a difficult task with Moremi having established himself as one of coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s most trusted players.
The 21-year-old Kimberley-born winger is back at the club after joining on loan from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq until the end of the season. His return will be welcomed by Pirates supporters, but he faces a direct challenge for the right-wing position.
Nkota, who is left-footed, must displace Bafana Bafana international Moremi, who moved from AmaZulu FC before the start of the 2025/26 season and quickly became a regular.
Moremi made 28 appearances in his debut season, scoring five goals and providing four assists. Although an injury kept him out for the past month, he has already made an impact this campaign, scoring three goals in seven games.
Those figures give Nkota a clear standard to match if he is to break back into the Pirates side. Moremi’s contribution, however, extends beyond his attacking statistics.
The 26-year-old, who was born in Sharpeville, has averaged 33.95 passes per 90 minutes this season and completed 82.83% of those passes. His ability to retain possession and support the team’s build-up has made him an important part of Ouaddou’s plans.
Defensive demands
Nkota’s biggest challenge may come in matching Moremi’s work without the ball. Pressing is a central part of Ouaddou’s tactical approach, and Moremi has shown that he can meet those defensive demands while still providing an attacking threat.
In seven matches this term, Moremi has made 22 tackles and eight interceptions. Those numbers could prove as important as his goals, assists and passing figures when Ouaddou considers his starting line-up.
Nkota will therefore need to show that he can offer more than attacking flair. To become a regular starter again, he must also contribute consistently to Pirates’ pressing game and defensive responsibilities.
Moremi’s benchmark currently stands at five goals and four assists in his first PSL season, followed by three goals in the current campaign. He has also recorded 33.95 passes per 90 minutes, an 82.83% completion rate, 22 tackles and eight interceptions.
If Nkota can match or surpass those numbers while adapting to Ouaddou’s tactical requirements, his prospects of becoming a regular starter for Orlando Pirates will improve.
The Buccaneers face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final on Saturday 10 October. The match will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00.
