Former Marumo Gallants coach Dylan Kerr has shed light on the remarkable
ascent of Orlando Pirates’ new midfielder, Masindi Nemtajela, revealing that
the 24-year-old was initially not the standout talent in his youth cohort.
In an exclusive interview, Kerr detailed how Nemtajela’s professional
journey only began two years ago with Gallants in the Motsepe Foundation
Championship, where he saw limited action. His big break came when the club,
having bought Moroka Swallows’ status to return to the top flight, decided
to retain him as part of a special initiative.
“I remember I was there for pre-season, and he was one of the ‘Chairman’s
projects’,” Kerr revealed, referring to Gallants’ chairman Abram Sello.
“When they played in the first division, there were three or four youngsters
that the Chairman wanted to stay with the club rather than go to Leruma
United, and he was one of them.”
Kerr was quick to point out that Nemtajela wasn’t the most obvious star at
the time. “To be fair, he wasn’t the best of the group. There were two
others that were better than him at that time,” he stated.
The club’s strategy was to invest in potential. “A team like Marumo, after
buying the status of Swallows to get back into the PSL, they kept the
players the Chairman thought they could develop further.”
That faith has been richly rewarded. Nemtajela’s rapid development and
strong performances earned him a dream move to Orlando Pirates. For Kerr,
this trajectory highlights the power of motivation alongside raw talent.
“Some players have got natural ability, some players have got that
motivation to become better. Many players are driven by success, the thought
of being at a bigger and better club,” Kerr explained. “Obviously the kids
in South Africa, even foreign players, they all want to play for the big
teams: Pirates, Chiefs, Sundowns.”
Nemtajela’s story is a testament to how dedication and the right opportunity
can propel a player from a development project to one of South African
football’s biggest stages.
