Orlando Pirates midfielder Tapelo Mokobodi has transformed from an overlooked player at Marumo Gallants into one of the Buccaneers' most influential performers. Coach Abdeslam Waddu predicts a brilliant future for the 23-year-old athlete.
Mokobodi demonstrated outstanding play in the Soweto Derby on Saturday, providing two assists as Pirates defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium during the Betway Premier League match.
After playing a crucial role in both goals—setting up the opening goal by Yanela Mbutu and assisting Tshepang Moremi, who scored the winning goal—Mokobodi was named Man of the Match. However, Waddu is particularly pleased to witness his rise, as he first noticed his potential while working together at Marumo Gallants.
How the Coach Saw the Player's Potential
The Pirates coach revealed that when he arrived at Gallants, Mokobodi was among a group of players isolated from the main squad. Waddu noted: 'I know him from Marumo Gallants. When I arrived in January, I think Marumo were last in the league, and they had a squad of about 40 players. Some of them worked as one group, and others were on the sidelines, and he was part of the players on the sidelines.'
Instead of discarding the players training separately, Waddu organized a friendly match to assess their abilities. Mokobodi seized this opportunity, immediately catching the attention of the Franco-Moroccan coach alongside Humbulani Nkube. Waddu stated: 'I organized a friendly match for the sidelined players, and I immediately saw the quality—his and (Humbulani) Nkube's—and these two helped us secure our position in the top division.'
This early positive experience ultimately led to his reunion with Pirates, and Waddu was very happy when the club secured Mokobodi's services.
The coach is convinced that the midfielder possesses all the qualities needed to become one of the country's leading players, highlighting his intelligence, work ethic, and ability to influence the game in both directions. He added: 'I was so happy when the club brought him to Pirates, and I knew what he could bring. If I were to talk about his qualities, he is a box-to-box midfielder, he covers large distances, he is very intelligent, he can see before he receives the ball, he can score and pass, and he can tackle.'
Beyond technical skills, Waddu also emphasized Mokobodi's professionalism and character, qualities he believes will define the player's future path. He concluded: 'The most important thing is that he is a professional; he has strong human values, he is very respectful to his teammates and the club. I predict a bright future for this guy, and he is definitely one of the best midfielders in the country.'
For Mokobodi, the derby performance on Saturday was another significant step in his development at Pirates. Having earned his coach's trust through performances dating back to his time at Gallants, the midfielder is now beginning to make his mark on one of South Africa's biggest football stages.