Orlando Pirates have bolstered their DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) side with the signing of three teenagers from Midlands Wanderers FC, underlining the club’s drive to invest in its next generation alongside its senior team.
Goalkeeper Olwethu Mkhize, centre-back Banele Nxumalo and striker Vusimuzi Ntshangase have all joined the Soweto giants’ development ranks, with all three players still under the age of 18. Their arrival is intended to add depth and competition to a DDC squad that lifted the title last season under coach Roscoe Krieling.
The trio will now compete for places in a team that has already shown it can produce silverware, and which is increasingly viewed as a key pathway to the Orlando Pirates first team and beyond. With their age profile, the club will have time to develop and refine their potential within an established structure.
Midlands Wanderers hail ‘proud moment’
Midlands Wanderers confirmed the departures in an emotional statement, describing the move to Orlando Pirates as a reward for years of work in their academy.
“And just like that, it’s time to bid farewell to our young cubs as they transition from Lions to Pirates,” the statement read.
“Midlands District Academy of Sport has once again proven that hard work, dedication, and development create opportunities. We are incredibly proud to announce that these talented young players have officially signed with Orlando Pirates, one of South Africa’s biggest football clubs.
“This is a proud moment not only for the players and their families but also for everyone who has been part of their journey. Watching them grow from raw talent into players ready for the next level is exactly what our academy strives for.
“This is not goodbye: it is simply see you later. We wish our boys every success as they begin this exciting new chapter. Continue to work hard, stay humble, and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.
“Congratulations, gentlemen! Your Midlands family will always be behind you. Once a Lion, always a Lion,” concluded the statement.
The move marks a significant step in the careers of Mkhize, Nxumalo and Ntshangase, who now enter one of the most competitive development environments in South African football.
Pathway to the PSL and abroad
Orlando Pirates’ DDC setup has recently produced several players who have gone on to make an impact in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and secure transfers overseas.
Mohau Nkota, Relebohile Mofokeng and Mbekezeli Mbokazi all progressed through the same DDC system that Mkhize, Nxumalo and Ntshangase are now joining. Each seized their chances at development level and made enough of an impression to attract interest from abroad.
Nkota earned a move to Saudi Arabia, while Mofokeng secured a transfer to Belgium and Mbokazi headed to the United States. Their trajectories underline the potential rewards on offer for the latest arrivals if they can establish themselves in Krieling’s squad and catch the eye at DDC level.
The signings also reinforce the sense that Orlando Pirates are intent on building for the long term, complementing work on the first-team squad with targeted recruitment for their youth structures. For Mkhize, Nxumalo and Ntshangase, the challenge now will be to adapt quickly, force their way into a championship-winning DDC side and follow the example set by recent graduates who have turned academy promise into professional success.
