Former Orlando Pirates player Mohau Nkota has revealed a surprising fact about his football loyalties. The 21-year-old winger, who now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, grew up supporting Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
This revelation comes after Nkota was spotted wearing a Chiefs jersey a few months ago, which sparked a lot of debate among local football fans about his loyalty to Pirates and possible admiration for Amakhosi, as seen in a post on
.
Nkota, who rose through the ranks at Pirates before breaking into the senior team in 2024, addressed the speculation during a recent interview. When asked if he had always supported Kaizer Chiefs, he said: “I support Pirates now. I grew up supporting Chiefs because my father forced me.”
From Pirates to Al-Ettifaq
Nkota had a breakthrough campaign with Pirates during the 2024/25 season, quickly establishing himself as one of the club’s brightest young stars. His impressive performances earned him a lucrative move to Al-Ettifaq for a reported £1.575 million (approximately R36 million). Nkota signed a three-year deal with the Saudi club until June 2028, with Pirates reportedly securing a 15% sell-on clause in the agreement.
He has been doing well in Saudi Arabia, registering two goals and three assists in 21 appearances across all competitions. However, despite a promising start to life abroad, Nkota has struggled for consistency in recent months, which has affected his standing in the Bafana Bafana setup.
Nkota’s World Cup Hopes
Although he has returned to regular matchday involvement at Al-Ettifaq, it remains unclear whether the 21-year-old will do enough to secure a place in Hugo Broos’ final national team squad. Nkota earns close to R398,000 per week, and his performances will be closely watched as the World Cup approaches.
