How Orlando Pirates duo can push for more first-team opportunities after initial struggles

In the mid 2025/26 season, Orlando Pirates signed Mpho Chabatsane and Daniel Msendami to bolster their squad.

The duo had done well for Marumo Gallants across all domestic competitions, explaining why coach Abdeslam Ouaddou went for their services. However, they struggled to get regular football as the tactician stuck with the players who had done the job already.

Bucs had won the MTN8 and Carling Knockout prior to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break.

Even after the domestic football resumed, Ouaddou didn’t take risks as the Soweto giants won their first Premier Soccer League title in 14 years. Former Marumo Gallants coach Alexandre Lafitte has explained why he is convinced the two will eventually deliver.

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“Mpho Chabatsane is a fantastic player with exceptional potential. If he maintains high standards both on and off the pitch, I believe he can one day push for international recognition,” Lafitte told FARPost.

“He possesses outstanding technical quality, particularly with his left foot, combined with very strong athletic attributes. He is quick, intelligent, and has a very good understanding of the game.

“The areas where he can still improve are his concentration, his ability to stay focused throughout matches, and his management of different phases of the game.

“I believe Orlando Pirates have made an excellent signing for the future. For Marumo Gallants, however, losing a player who can operate both as a left-back and as a left centre-back is a significant loss,” Lafitte further stated.

Msendami puzzle solved!

“As for Daniel Msendami, he is a player with outstanding athletic qualities. He thrives on attacking space and running in behind defensive lines. His intensity makes him particularly dangerous, whether it is to hurt opponents late in games or to stretch defensive blocks with his runs in depth,” Lafitte advised.

“He still needs to improve his end product. He is capable of creating many opportunities for himself and for his teammates, but to reach the highest level, he now needs to convert those situations into better numbers in terms of goals and assists. That being said, he has genuine potential.

“Beyond their footballing abilities, both players are excellent individuals with great character. They have a very good mentality, and it was a real pleasure to work with them. I think that, in a very short period of time, we managed to help several players improve, such as [Bheki] Mabuza, [Teboho] Motloung, [Khumbulani] Ncube, and others,” the tactician concluded.