From Kimberley to the Kingdom: Nkota’s rise writes a new chapter abroad
Mohau Nkota's move to Saudi Arabia was confirmed by the Buccaneers on Sunday and was announced by Al-Ettifaq themselves. He is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Dammam-based club, who have moved quickly to secure one of the PSL’s most exciting young talents.
Image: BackpagePix / File
“I had to work really hard for everything.”
That’s how Mohau Nkota sums up his journey from Kimberley’s hard fields to Johannesburg’s premier football stages – and now, onward to the Saudi Pro League.
The 20-year-old winger’s rise has been anything but easy. Born in a city where young people are crazy about the game, but with limited opportunities for professional football, Nkota knew from a young age that making it to the top would require more than talent. “In Kimberley, everyone wants to play football,” he says, “but there’s only one NFD team, no PSL sides. To make it to Jozi, you really have to push yourself.”
Push himself, he did. Nkota honed his skills playing for local clubs and tournaments, often wearing the number 10 jersey – the symbol of creativity and responsibility. “It wasn’t easy,” he says. “But I knew what I wanted. I promised everyone I’d be the person I wanted to be in life.”
His breakthrough came almost out of nowhere. After impressing in weekend tournaments, Nkota was invited to trial for the Orlando Pirates’ Diski Challenge squad. He made the most of it – scoring twice in one match against the national Under-17 team, and again for the MDC side in another friendly. “That’s how I got in,” he says simply.
A season that turned heads
What followed was a meteoric debut senior season. Promoted to the first team, Nkota made 39 appearances across competitions, notching seven goals and five assists. His performances in the CAF Champions League, in particular, drew attention from outside South Africa.
Earlier this week, his journey took its boldest turn yet: Nkota signed for Al-Ettifaq, a club in Saudi Arabia’s top division. The move, confirmed by both Pirates and Al-Ettifaq, marks a major milestone for the young winger – and a statement of intent from a player whose hunger has never wavered.
While financial details weren’t disclosed, Nkota joins a league that has become a magnet for global stars and a platform with worldwide reach. For a player still in the early stages of his career, it’s a huge opportunity – and a test of adaptability.
Keeping his roots
Despite the glitz of his next chapter, Nkota remains grounded in the lessons that shaped him – both on and off the pitch.
“Even when I wasn’t in the matchday squad, I’d lead the team in song,” he says. Music, like football, was part of his leadership style. “Relebohile [Mofokeng] always pushed me to the front. He knows I can sing.”
That spirit of contribution – to the team, to the moment – echoes in the way Nkota speaks of his former coaches. In a recent farewell letter to Pirates, he paid tribute to the men who helped mould him.
“To Coach Mandla Qhogi and Mxolisi Mngomezulu – thank you for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dream. You believed in me.”
He also acknowledged development mentor Joseph Makhanya and first-team head coach José Riveiro, under whom he lifted his first senior trophy: the 2024 Nedbank Cup.
Bigger stages, brighter spotlight
Nkota joins Al-Ettifaq at a time when Saudi football is booming – not just financially, but in global visibility. The club, based in Dammam, finished seventh last season. While not among the giants of the league, Al-Ettifaq have historic silverware and the ambition to grow.
Additionally, the Saudi Pro League has grabbed global attention in recent years by attracting some of the biggest names in football – including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Ivan Toney.
And while the move is exciting for Nkota, he admits it wasn’t easy to say goodbye. In a message to fans, he thanked Orlando Pirates’ technical staff, his teammates, and the club’s supporters – the Ghost.
“Your chants, your passion, even your criticism – it fuelled me every step of the way,” he wrote. “It was a privilege to play for you.”
Nkota’s journey may now take him thousands of kilometres away from home, but if his story so far is anything to go by, the grit, gratitude and growth that got him this far will keep him rising.
So on his current journey, from Kimberley to the Kingdom – the grind continues for Mohau Nkota.