When will Mohau Nkota play for Orlando Pirates? Fitness concerns delay second debut

Orlando Pirates’ returning attacker Mohau Nkota has started training with the team, but reports indicate he will be sidelined for a bit longer before becoming available for selection.

Nkota returned to Pirates on a season-long loan deal recently, after spending a season at parent club Al Ettifaq following his highly publicised move from the Sea Robbers at the end of the 2024/2025 season.

However, while he has been warmly welcomed back by “The Ghost” on social media, it seems it may take a while before Nkota makes his first appearance. He has yet to regain match fitness and fully recover from the knee injury that ended his season prematurely and forced him to miss out on the World Cup with Bafana Bafana.

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The upcoming Fifa international window – featuring Afcon qualifiers against Guinea at Orlando Amstel Arena on September 30 and Eritrea at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, followed by an international friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on October 4 – provides Nkota with crucial time to rebuild his conditioning.

Pirates are in desperate need of someone with Nkota’s abilities, having been dealt a massive blow by several high-profile departures in recent months, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Deano van Rooyen.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has successfully navigated the squad through this transition by integrating youth and newcomers. His tactical adjustments have paid off: Pirates have reached the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns on October 10 and sit second in the Betway Premiership table with 13 points – three behind Sundowns, who have played an extra game.

In the immediate future, Pirates will host La Cure Waves in a crucial CAF Champions League preliminary first round qualifier match at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg.