Orlando Pirates set to sign Ermelo prospect Owethu Malinga

Orlando Pirates are preparing to add another promising youngster from Ermelo to their squad after identifying Owethu Malinga during their off-season scouting activity in Mpumalanga in July.

Malinga has already moved to Johannesburg and is understood to have begun settling into a new life with the Soweto club. His arrival would continue Pirates’ recent focus on recruiting and developing young players from outside the established football centres.

The teenager is expected to begin his Pirates career with the club’s DStv Diski Challenge side rather than immediately joining the senior squad, according to a source close to the Buccaneers.

“Yena uyalazi(He knows how to play football) ,” revealed the source.

“They scouted the player in Mpumalanga and he is already staying at the clubhouse in Johannesburg.”

Malinga will become the latest young player from Ermelo to join Pirates. He is set to link up with Simphiwe Masilela, who was promoted to the senior team before the start of the current campaign.

Masilela has already made two appearances for the first team. He featured in the season opener against Milford FC and then came on as a second-half substitute in the Betway Premiership match against Chippa United last Sunday.

His early involvement underlines the pathway available to players who make an impression within the club’s development structure, although Malinga is expected to start by gaining experience in the DStv Diski Challenge outfit.

Pirates have promoted several youngsters to the senior squad, including Mpho ‘Phopho’ Phadime. However, Phadime is still waiting to make his official debut in the club’s famous Black and White colours.

He travelled with the first team to Spain for pre-season but has yet to appear in a competitive match for the Buccaneers.

Malinga’s move follows the same broad route as Masilela’s, with Pirates first identifying his ability in Mpumalanga before bringing him to Johannesburg. While the club has not publicly confirmed the signing, his presence at the Pirates clubhouse and the expectation that he will join the DStv Diski Challenge team indicate that the move is close to completion.

The transfer would give Pirates another young player to monitor and develop as they continue to introduce academy prospects into the wider first-team structure. Masilela’s two appearances this season provide a recent example of how players from the development ranks can be given an opportunity at senior level.