‘They are 50 percent ready’: Benson Mhlongo assesses Orlando Pirates’ rising stars

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October 20, 2026 12:26 pm Related News: Benson Mhlongo | Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates players at training. Picture by the Soweto giants

Former Orlando Pirates captain Benson Mhlongo has passed a verdict on the new crop of players emerging at the Soweto giants and slowly turning themselves into key players at the club.

The Buccaneers have a new-look midfield with the likes of Simphiwe Masilela, Thapelo Mokobodi and Simpiwe Selepe staking their claim in the starting XI in recent games. Cemran Dansin, Mpho Padime, Matome Mmolai, Bohlale Ngwato, Kabelo Kgositsile, Neo Rapoo and centre-back Sbangani Zulu have also been fighting for regular game time.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou recently stated that he has found a reliable number 10 in Masilela whose rise comes following the departure of Relebohile Mofokeng and Sipho Mbule. The Buccaneers coach built a squad for this season with defending the Betway Premiership as one of his top priorities.

Making their chances of retaining the league title bright is that the Soweto giants have a point fewer than log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game more. They also face the more demanding CAF Champions League, while the Carling Knockout and Nedbank Cup are up for grabs.

Recently, Pirates lost the MTN8 final to Sundowns, which raised questions about Ouaddou’s side’s ability to maintain its reputation for winning domestic cups. They built the cup-winning habit under Jose Riveiro and continued it under Ouaddou, who guided them to the MTN8, Carling Knockout and Betway Premiership last season.

“I think what Pirates is doing right is to look at these young boys and ask, ‘Are they ready to compete in the league and in CAF?’ The only way to test them is in the big games,” Mhlongo told FARPost in an interview.

“You can’t test them at training or training matches. I’m saying you have got four big teams currently. Pirates as PSL champions, Sundowns as number two, TS Galaxy and you have got Chiefs.

“As for TS Galaxy, people are not aware that they are always fighting for the top five or top four. We had SuperSport United before, but TS Galaxy are one of the teams that give big teams a hard time; they are not an easy team to beat.

“So, if these young boys can beat TS Galaxy, it means they are 50 percent ready. These boys couldn’t beat Sundowns [in the MTN8 final], and it means there is a lot of work to be done in terms of gaining experience. So how do you get experience? By playing matches. What you must look at is that Pirates are starting to assemble a squad of 30 players plus for the next five years to compete.”

Some of the Pirates rising stars under scrutiny are those promoted from the reserve side or new signings. That could spark fears that the Buccaneers need a few more years before the players integrate to form a solid team capable of claiming silverware.

“Remember when Pitso [Mosimane] started this journey [of winning trophies at Mamelodi Sundowns], he couldn’t achieve anything for three years while he was still assembling the best team. Even history can tell that every team that has won the Champions League or the league spent two or three years before they could win the league,” Mhlongo added.

“The team that won the league for Pirates is a team that has been together for three years. But they released big guys like [Mbekezeli] Mbokazi and Mofokeng. So they had to replace those guys.

“Those are special players, by the way. I am looking forward to seeing this project because now they gave supporters a trophy. They are not under pressure now.

“What they are doing for me, I can see they are building a squad to compete—to defend the league and also go for CAF. If we are going to pit these young boys against Sundowns, you are going to miss the real idea behind Pirates and why they are playing these youngsters.”

One of the aspects of football which the upcoming players are being scrutinised for is game management and approach to matches. Mhlongo has shared his thoughts on whether they are able to draw a line between entertaining football and grinding results.

“In football, there is something called performance versus grinding results. Experienced players know when to play the game and excite the supporters, and when to grind a game and make it look ugly but still grind out results. Only experienced players know that,” Mhlongo, who also played for Sundowns, went on.

“But now, where we are, yes, we entertain, we grind results and go home. But we can entertain; only experienced players can decide what to do at the moment.

“So, these boys are still learning when to grind results and then excite supporters. They grind out the result against TS Galaxy, and it means they know how to grind.

“Now we have to wait and see if they can complement the two. Knowing when to entertain the crowd and still get results.”

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