A young talent who has made the leap from development structures to first-team football is turning heads across Europe, with his performances in continental competition only intensifying foreign interest that began months ago.
The left-footed attacker, who has seamlessly transitioned from youth football to senior level at Orlando Pirates, is now the subject of renewed inquiries from a prominent Belgian outfit that had been monitoring him long before his first-team breakthrough.
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As firstly reported by Soccer Laduma earlier this season, Belgian side Standard Liege have been monitoring Pirates' youngster who was at that time playing in the DDC.
Now insiders privy to information and close to both the player and the club have indicated that Standard Liege are believed to have followed up on Nkota who is currently starring with the Bucs first team.
"The interest started when he was still in the DDC and they wanted him even without trials. Now they are just making a follow-up on that interest. They have been monitoring him ever since and now they are believed to have made more enquiries because they have been impressed with his performances since the first time they saw him," the source told Soccer Laduma.
Meanwhile a second source stated that Standard Liege are not the only club that have shown interest in the 20-year-old left-footed winger.
"For now, of course, the focus is on Standard Liege as they were the first ones to show interest and they have apparently followed up with enquiries but there are other clubs who have shown interest in him. We can't talk about them at the moment though. But when the time is right I will let you know. Let's not put pressure on him," the second insider told the Siya crew.
After doing very well with the DDC side, the 20-year-old was promoted to the senior team at the start of the season and he has featured in most games, scoring important goals domestically and in the CAF Champions League where Pirates were knocked out in the semi-finals by Egyptian side Pyramids FC.
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This emerging transfer story represents the latest chapter in South Africa's growing reputation as a talent producer. For Orlando Pirates, Nkota's development showcases their successful youth pathway while potentially representing a significant financial opportunity. The Belgian Pro League has proven to be an excellent stepping stone for African talents looking to establish themselves in Europe, with several South Africans finding a path there in recent years.
As the season draws to a close, the coming weeks could prove decisive in determining whether Nkota becomes the next young Buccaneer to test himself abroad or whether he remains at Orlando Stadium to continue his development. The club's participation in continental competition has evidently provided the perfect showcase for their emerging talent on a broader stage.
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