Milford coach Pupuma proud as Mthiyane makes his mark at Orlando Pirates

Milford FC head coach Dr. Xanti Pupuma says he is delighted to see former midfielder Mthetheleli Mthiyane establish himself at Orlando Pirates after the club helped shape his early career.

Mthiyane began playing for Milford as a teenager in the amateur ranks before contributing to the club’s promotion push towards the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

The midfielder later joined Stellenbosch, where he spent one season in the top flight. His performances there earned him a move to Orlando Pirates at the age of 25, completing a rapid rise from lower-level football to one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.

Mthiyane has since become an important part of the Pirates midfield. He has made five appearances for the Soweto club this season as he continues to build his reputation at the top level.

For Pupuma, the midfielder’s progress is a source of particular pride and reflects the quality of players emerging from the Richards Bay area.

“I’m actually very happy for him, I think when he came to us he was 17 or 18 – and I’m sure if you ask him, who gave him the chance, to be in the team and he’s doing well, we always knew he had the talent,” Pupuma said.

“It was a matter of being at the right place for the development. I’m happy he’s also taken his time, patient about his growth, I’m sure he will be the player we expected him to be.”

Mthiyane’s route to Pirates has also underlined the value of patience during a player’s development. He moved through Milford’s lower-level teams before stepping into professional football with Stellenbosch, rather than making an early and direct jump to a major club.

That gradual progression eventually gave him the chance to play in the top flight before he secured the biggest transfer of his career by joining Pirates.

Pupuma believes Mthiyane’s success can encourage other young players in the region to continue pursuing professional football. He pointed to several former Milford players who are now making progress elsewhere.

“There’s a few Milford players doing well, Spha is doing well, he was with us at centre-back, Ncanana from Durban City, when I see these boys, I’m very proud that we contributed,” he added.

“Now that we’re here, you will see more of the local players from the Richards Bay area coming through the system and show everyone can play football.”

Mthiyane’s emergence at Orlando Pirates represents another example of Milford’s contribution to the development of footballers from the Richards Bay area. Pupuma hopes the pathway created by those players will lead to more local talent following them into the professional game.