Mohau Nkota opens up on warning he received from ex-Liverpool star

Bafana Bafana forward Mohau Nkota has opened up about the crucial guidance he received from former Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum upon joining Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.

After a standout period with Orlando Pirates, the 21-year-old made a surprising move to the Saudi club before the current season. Arriving in a new country and a dressing room filled with high-profile players, Nkota found a mentor in the team’s captain, a Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner.

In an interview with the Saudi Pro League, Nkota detailed the warm welcome he received from the Dutch midfielder.

“When I arrived, I talked to my captain, Gini Wijnaldum. He’s the one who advised me about the league and told me how things are going to go during the season,” Nkota explained.

How Gini Wijnaldum helped Mohau Nkota

“He said to me, ‘It’s not going to be easy, so you have to work and fight for your position. You have to always be there. Show up; show the coach that you want to play.’ He told me a lot of things that I need to show myself, who I am, and where I come from so that people can recognise me in the league.”

Nkota added that Wijnaldum encouraged him to play without fear. “I didn’t know he was the captain until I asked, and he told me, ‘I’m the captain here, but don’t worry; be free. Don’t be scared to make mistakes. We are here to help you as our new teammate… to show us what you bring to the team.’”

The young forward also shared his long-held ambition to play abroad, revealing how the transfer unfolded while he was on international duty.

“Most of us want to play overseas,” Nkota said. “For most of us, that’s our wish, to move at an early age, to get to experience leagues in the other countries.”

An emotional farewell to Orlando Pirates

He recounted the moment he learned of Al Ettifaq’s interest. “I was in the national team camp, and I was called by my agent, Karabo Mathang-Tshabuse, saying there’s a club that I’m going to move to in Saudi Arabia. And then I got a call from the [Orlando Pirates] chairman [Irvin Khoza] saying it’s up to me whether I want to go or not. But I was happy about moving here.”

Despite his excitement for a new challenge, Nkota admitted that leaving his boyhood club was a difficult experience.

“It wasn’t easy. It was emotional, leaving the club where you grow up. They taught me a lot of things,” he stated. “My last week, it wasn’t easy to go in and say goodbyes to the guys. It was very emotional for me, so I found the last day hard, knowing that I will never see them again.”

He concluded with a message to the fans and a clear statement of his ambition: “To the Orlando Pirates fans, thank you. I wanted to leave; I wanted to play football. I want to go as far as I can.”