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
FT
Swallows 1️⃣-4️⃣ Pirates
Shwabule ⚽️
Saleng ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Dzvukamanja ⚽️#DStvPrem #UNPLAYABLE pic.twitter.com/JpMn4aiFi0— #UNPLAYABLE (@UnplayableZA) March 3, 2023
“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.
