Khumalo tells Orlando Pirates teenager Padime to turn flair into end product

Former Bafana Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo has warned Orlando Pirates youngster Mpho Padime that showboating alone will not be enough to sustain a professional career.

The 19-year-old midfielder made his official senior debut as a late substitute in the second leg of the MTN8 tie against Sekhukhune United at a sold-out Orlando Amstel Arena.

Padime’s introduction immediately captured the attention of supporters, who were impressed by his confidence and willingness to take on opponents. However, Khumalo believes the teenager must ensure his individual skill consistently leads to a meaningful contribution for the team.

Speaking as an analyst on SuperSport TV’s ExtraTime, Khumalo said he enjoyed watching Padime’s flair but questioned whether that approach could be maintained over the long term.

“Look, a lot of confidence… and when it happens, you want to see an end product,” Khumalo said.

The former Bafana Bafana captain also urged people not to place excessive pressure on Padime, who has received significant attention after only one senior appearance.

“The young man (Padime) has received a lot of love very early on, and you don’t want to put him under the wrong type of pressure. Understandably, he comes from a different style of football.”

Khumalo acknowledged the entertainment value of the youngster’s game but stressed that productivity must become the priority as Padime adapts to the demands of top-level football.

“We appreciate the skill, but on this side of football, you’ve got to be productive – so more production.”

Padime did come close to providing a decisive contribution during his brief appearance. After a promising passage of link-up play, he created an opening for Tshepang Moremi, but Moremi was unable to beat the goalkeeper.

Khumalo accepted that such moments made Padime’s performance exciting, while again questioning whether the same style could deliver consistently throughout a long career.

“A little bit of sugar. We love to see that. I think it’s fantastic when it has an end product. However, when you look at longevity, can you do that for 10 years realistically? Because that is the environment you are in.”

Despite the discussion surrounding Padime’s approach, Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou offered support for the teenager. The coach said he had given Padime tactical freedom and encouraged him to express himself on the pitch.

Ouaddou told the player to simply “enjoy your football.”

Orlando Pirates will now turn their attention to continental competition, with their next fixture coming in the CAF Champions League preliminary round.

The Buccaneers are due to travel to Mauritius to face Mauritian champions La Cure Waves in the first leg on Sunday.

The South African side will be aiming to secure an important advantage away from home before the return fixture.