Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has revealed plans to integrate academy graduates into the first team after a long absence of youngsters in the senior setup.
The Buccaneers have not had an academy graduate feature prominently in the first team since Thabiso Monyane was promoted nearly four years ago.
In comparison, rival clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have tapped into their academies for talent, particularly Chiefs, who recently have 19-year old Mduduzi Shabalala staking a claim in the line-up, with the likes of Wandile Duba and Samkelo Zwane in the fringes of the first team.
Sundowns have had instant success with the transition of Cassius Mailula, who only got promoted at the beginning of the season and is already in the talk for Player of the Season awards.
Pirates had DStv Diski Challenge defender and captain Ndumiso Ngiba on the bench in their 4-1 win over Swallows last Friday, and Riveiro has now revealed that processes are underway to bring academy graduates into the first team
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“Obviously our academy is part of the future of the club and it’s our responsibility also in the first team to make sure that we make good use of our talent, because there’s talent,” Riveiro said in a press conference.
“I think we have an important role in the preparation for professional football and for the future and the communication with the development team at Pirates is very good. We’re trying to know as much as possible about our talented players because, sooner or later, hopefully as many as possible can be part of the first team in the future, so we need to do the work in advance.”
Pirates promoted defender Thabiso Sesane in 2020, but he was loaned out to Jomo Cosmos last season and is currently out on loan again at Motsepe Foundation Championship side All Stars.
He was in the team that lost against the Buccaneers in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
Riveiro’s plans to integrate academy graduates into the first team have been met with enthusiasm by fans, who have long been waiting to see young players make the jump from the academy to the senior team.
With the club’s commitment to bringing through youth, the future looks bright for the Buccaneers.
