Kamogelo Sebelebele has been a revelation since he joined Orlando Pirates from TS Galaxy this season, writes Mazola Molefe.

According to TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi, Orlando Pirates have struck gold with the signing of Kamogelo Sebelebele.

The Rockets boss famously described him as a “two-in-one” player, citing his versatility after agreeing to a deal with Pirates at the start of the 2025/26 season.

Sukazi even admitted he personally advised the 23-year-old to make the move, convinced it was in the best interests of South African football.

Barely two months later, Sebelebele’s trajectory has proved him right.

The winger has not only cemented his place in Pirates’ starting line-up but also earned a call-up to Bafana Bafana.

He now looks a genuine contender for Hugo Broos’ Africa Cup of Nations squad heading to Morocco next month.

Sukazi says none of this has come as a surprise.

“At TS Galaxy, we always apply reason to these matters. We are known now to be a club that affords opportunity to players, and when we do these transfers, we look at a number of factors,” he explained.

“Sometimes it could be reasons to the benefit of the club or it could be reasons to the benefit of football, or a balance of the two. We always try to strike some good balance in the end, and we obviously want to maintain our sustainability levels at our club. “For example, a Kamogelo Sebelebele, who is a transfer not necessarily to the benefit of TS Galaxy, but to the benefit of football in South Africa, which we also look at as TS Galaxy.”

The Rockets chairman pointed out that the player had long been a standout performer, but his profile remained under the radar because he was not at one of the so-called “big three” clubs.

“We are a club that’s very aware and appreciative of its role within the game of football in the country. We should be able to go out there in the unknown areas or levels of the game and discover talent which will be national assets and serve the nation,” Sukazi concluded.

Sebelebele himself recognised that foresight. When his Bafana debut came, he credited his former chairman for predicting his breakthrough.

“I am happy and excited to be here and being given the opportunity to represent your country is a huge deal. I am looking forward to helping the national team qualify for the World Cup,” he said in camp before crunch qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

He came off the bench in the tense 1–1 draw with the Super Eagles at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, a significant step in his rapid rise.

Broos already had Sebelebele on his radar, he had featured at the COSAFA Cup earlier in the year, but his performances in Pirates colours accelerated his elevation.

Two man-ofthe-match awards and a spectacular long-range goal against Stellenbosch in the Betway Premiership made it impossible for the national coach to ignore him. Sebelebele admits life at Pirates has transformed him.

“Playing for Pirates has changed a lot of things for me. The support I am getting from everyone is huge and that has been building my confidence,” he said.

“A lot has changed. The support boosts my confidence. I am ready to show people what I have to offer. When you play for the so-called ‘small teams’, people don’t recognise you. But now that I am playing for Orlando Pirates, people can see my talent.”

Further evidence of his potential lies in how coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has integrated him tactically.

The Frenchman has not shied away from experimenting with Sebelebele’s role.

“In modern football, you can see that many players are being rotated to play various positions. I think as a player, you have to be able to play at least two positions. It’s very important (as a player) to give solutions to the coaches, as today Sebelebele gave me a solution,” Ouaddou explained after a dramatic MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns.

On that day, Sebelebele started at right-back before being pushed higher up the flank in the second half.

The adjustment helped Pirates unlock Sundowns’ defence, showcasing his versatility and intelligence in adapting to the team’s needs.

For Sukazi, it is vindication of Galaxy’s role as a launchpad for national assets.

And for Pirates, it looks like a bargain capture of a player blossoming at just the right time, while for Bafana, it might just be the discovery of another key piece in their quest for continental glory in Morocco and World Cup qualification beyond.

From Rockets gem to Buccaneers game-changer, this is just the beginning of Kamogelo Sebelebele’s story and it is already one of the most compelling in South African football this season.