Just seven months ago, Simphiwe Selepe’s career at Orlando Pirates read
like a football dream. Introduced to the first team by then-coach José
Riveiro late last season, the midfielder burst onto the Betway Premiership
scene—making nine appearances, debuting against Kaizer Chiefs, and scoring
against AmaZulu.
His rise felt swift and destined. A senior national team call-up from Hugo
Broos for friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique crowned what was a
breathtaking month for the 20-year-old, marking him as one of South Africa’s
brightest emerging talents.
With the arrival of new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou—who has publicly spoken
against the concept of “reserve players,” preferring to label squad members
as “impact players”—many expected Selepe to continue his ascent.
Yet this season, his name has faded from team sheets. An undisclosed injury
sidelined him, and so far, he has not featured for Pirates in the new
campaign. The player who, in a flash, went from debutant to goalscorer to
Bafana Bafana international now finds himself in a period of watching and
waiting.
Football’s path is rarely straight, especially at a club of Pirates’
stature, where competition is fierce and momentum can shift overnight. For
Selepe, the fairytale chapter has paused—replaced by the quiet, testing
reality of life at the top.
