Orlando Pirates News Today: Youngster lauds loan, DDC title defence in tatters & more

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including youngster Moses Mphekgoane lauding his loan move to Hope FC while their DDC title-winning team is falling off quickly.

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Pirates star on eye-opening loan spell in NFD

Orlando Pirates young defender Moses Mphekgoane has opened up about his loan spell at Motsepe Foundation Championship side Hope FC.

Mphekgoane was sent out on loan at the second-tier club this season to gain valuable experience in a bid to prepare him for first-team experience after starring for their DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team that won their maiden title last term.

The 21-year-old says it has been an eye-opening experience so far and is loving every bit of his new challenge.

“To be honest, it was a bit of a jump, because there are a lot of experienced players there, players who went overseas and won titles with big teams but it’s actually fund for me, I’m learning a lot. I’m just a sponge there at Hope, I keep on learning and growing,” Mphekgoane told the media at the University of Pretoria, where he is currently with the South Africa U23 squad preparing for their AFCON and 2028 Olympics qualifier against Madagascar.

“For my career it’s a good jump, it’s a time for me to be able to be exposed to different challenges. NFD is a good level, it’s a hard league, I’m getting more experience, I’m getting game time, I’m seeing different things, I’m learning football differently and I feel like it’s a good step for my career.”

The centre-back has highlighted a number of things that make the second tier a top league which is preparing him well for national team duties.

“I don’t think I’m the only player from the NFD (in the U23 squad), Gabriel Amato (Cape Town City) came here, Dhakier (Lee, Cape Town City) is also here and we’re doing a great job I don’t want to lie,” he added as quoted by KickOff.

“I feel like the league is high, the intensity is high, the competition. It gives us an edge even coming here, it’s not like we’re far behind when we’re playing against our teammates, whether it’s players from overseas or players in the PSL.”

Bucs youngsters suffer DDC setback

Meanwhile, Mphekgoane’s former teammates are not having a good defence of their title as they suffered their third loss in the DDC on Saturday.

Pirates lost 3-1 to Richards Bay despite going ahead after 18 minutes through Siyabonga Ngwenya with Luyanda Mthembu starting the comeback for the Natal Rich Boyz just before halftime.

Richards Bay went ahead six minutes after the break through Khayalethu Ndlangamandla while Mpilwenhle Dlamini’s 68^th-minute goal firmed up the result.

Defeat saw Pirates drop to fourth place on the standings with 13 points from eight matches, eight behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs, who have played a game less.