Mpho Padime has gone from entertaining crowds in township football to breaking into the Orlando Pirates first team in the space of just a few months, and the teenager is determined to ensure his rapid rise is only the beginning.
The 19-year-old winger was one of the standout performers as Pirates’ reserves made history by winning the DStv Diski Challenge title for the first time. Padime finished the campaign with 10 goals and nine assists, earning recognition as the DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season.
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His performances earned him a senior call-up, with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou taking him to Spain for pre-season alongside fellow academy products Cristian Derbyshire and Simphiwe Masilela.
That pre-season proved to be another important step in Padime’s development, before he made his first-team debut and was subsequently called up to the South Africa U23 squad.
For the youngster, however, the rapid progression has been less about looking back at what he has achieved and more about continuing to work.
“For me the last few months I have been happy and those ahead of me are pushing me to work hard and other things will come,” Padime said.
It has been a remarkable rise for a player who only recently featured in Gauteng’s grassroots football scene. Pirates’ official profile notes that Padime built his reputation with local side Kathorus Juventus before making the step into professional football.
His emergence has also added another exciting young attacking option to the Pirates squad, with the winger known for his dribbling ability and creativity.
Padime has not forgotten where his journey started, though, and believes his story can serve as encouragement to youngsters playing football in townships and local leagues.
“What I can [say] to them is that don’t give up, work hard and playing eKasi doesn’t mean you are no one because you never know who is watching and where you will end up,” he said.
“So, keep working hard and God will always help you.”
With a historic DStv Diski Challenge campaign behind him, a first-team debut under his belt and international recognition now arriving, Padime’s meteoric rise has placed him firmly among the young players to watch at Orlando Pirates.