Mohau Nkota has officially resumed life at Orlando Pirates after returning from Saudi Arabia. The 21-year-old winger joined the Buccaneers on a season-long loan from Al-Ettifaq.
However, Nkota did not immediately feature after arriving back in Soweto. The attacker was still recovering from a knee injury when he returned to South Africa. He subsequently spent several weeks working under the club’s medical team.
Now, there are encouraging signs that Nkota is nearing a return to competitive action. The winger was recently seen participating in full training with his Pirates teammates. His return could provide another attacking option for the Soweto giants.
Mohau Nkota gets a new Orlando Pirates jersey number
Nkota has also been spotted wearing the number 21 shirt during training. The jersey became available after Deano Van Rooyen left Orlando Pirates on 21 August. Nkota previously wore number 33 during his first spell with the club.
That period produced several memorable moments for the young attacker. He scored seven goals and registered five assists across 39 appearances for Pirates. Nkota also announced himself dramatically during his Pirates debut against AmaZulu FC in 2024.
The winger scored twice during that memorable appearance. He later repeated the feat during his CAF Champions League debut. Nkota found the net twice against CR Belouizdad in Algeria.
Therefore, Pirates supporters will hope his latest return produces another strong chapter.
What happened to Mohau Nkota at Al-Ettifaq?
Nkota initially enjoyed an impressive start after moving to the Saudi Pro League. The South African winger scored just seven minutes into his league debut. He helped Al-Ettifaq defeat Al-Kholood 2–1 in the encounter. That goal also secured a notable piece of history for the youngster.
Nkota became the first South African footballer to score in the Saudi Pro League. He eventually made 22 appearances for the Saudi club. During that period, he scored twice and supplied three assists.
However, his campaign later suffered a significant interruption. A serious knee injury forced Nkota to undergo surgery. The setback also ruled him out for the final part of the season.
Although he eventually returned to training, Al-Ettifaq had another consideration. The Saudi club wanted to carefully manage his fitness and development.
Consequently, Nkota returned to Orlando Pirates on a season-long loan. The move now gives him another opportunity to rebuild his rhythm. More importantly, regular football could help the winger regain his best form.
The post Mohau Nkota returns to Orlando Pirates with new jersey number appeared first on iHarare News.
