Orlando Pirates give Moeketsi Koalepe chance to follow Relebohile Mofokeng pathway

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeketsi Koalepe has been handed a starting role for the reserve team on their Winners Tour in the Netherlands, marking another significant stage in his early development with the Soweto club.

The 21-year-old was selected in the Orlando Pirates Reserve Team starting XI for their match against Vitesse in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

The reserve side are continuing their tour after winning the DStv Diski Challenge last season. The Winners Tour is scheduled to run from 14 to 23 August and was organised as a reward for that success.

Koalepe’s involvement offers an early indication of the role Orlando Pirates believe he can play within their goalkeeping structure. The youngster only recently joined the club from FC Leapers, having impressed during a standout campaign with the club.

At the 2026 Pirates Cup, Koalepe was named both Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Player of the Tournament after helping FC Leapers win the competition. His performances earned him a move to the Soweto giants and gave him the opportunity to continue his development at one of South Africa’s leading clubs.

The goalkeeper’s arrival also places him on a pathway that has previously helped produce one of Orlando Pirates’ most highly regarded young players.

Relebohile Mofokeng was named Player of the Tournament at the 2022 Pirates Cup before joining the Buccaneers. He subsequently broke into the senior set-up and established himself as one of the club’s standout young talents.

Koalepe will now hope to create his own story at Orlando Pirates after being recruited to strengthen the reserve-team squad.

His promotion into the touring group follows Bayanda Zulu’s loan move to Motsepe Foundation Championship side Midlands Wanderers. Koalepe has therefore arrived as a direct replacement for Zulu within the reserve-team structure.

Starting against Vitesse gives the former TS Galaxy academy goalkeeper valuable exposure to the Pirates environment. It also provides an opportunity to gain experience alongside the club’s developing players and demonstrate that he can compete for a more prominent role in the future.

Orlando Pirates have continued to place emphasis on the development of young talent, with the club’s reserve structures offering players a route towards the first team. Koalepe’s performances in the Netherlands could represent the beginning of that journey for him.

His immediate task will be to establish himself within the reserve side, but the club’s history of promoting players from its development competitions gives the goalkeeper a clear example to follow. Like Mofokeng before him, Koalepe has already made an impression at the Pirates Cup and now has an opportunity to turn that success into progress with the Buccaneers.

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