Following the impressive rise of teenage sensation Cemran Dansin, the
Orlando Pirates’ famed youth academy appears ready to unleash another
exciting prospect. All signs point to Mpho “Phopho” Padime, a standout
performer in the club’s youth ranks, being the next in line for a first-team
breakthrough.
The 18-year-old midfielder, highly regarded within the club’s technical
team, has already been training with the senior side. These sessions seem to
be paying dividends, as Padime has been in scintillating form for the
Buccaneers’ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) reserve team.
Under the guidance of coach Roscoe Krieling, Padime has been a driving force
behind the reserve side’s climb to the top of the DDC table. His consistent
displays, marked by tactical intelligence and a maturity beyond his years,
have drawn strong praise from his coach, who considers him one of the
country’s most advanced midfield talents for his age.
Internally, “Phopho” is already being compared to recent successful academy
graduates like Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota. He has captured the
attention of the club’s decision-makers with a compelling blend of technical
skill, midfield aggression, and an innate ability to dictate the tempo of a
game.
This faith in youth is a club tradition that first-team coach Abdeslam
Ouaddou is continuing, building on the foundation laid by his predecessor,
José Riveiro. With Dansin already making his mark in the senior squad, there
is a growing belief that Padime could be the next to make the
leap—especially if he maintains his current rapid development.
For now, Padime’s focus remains on securing silverware for the DDC side. But
if his trajectory continues, it may only be a matter of time before Pirates
fans witness another homegrown gem shining on the senior stage.
