{
  "id": 17767083,
  "title": "Pirates’ Ouaddou says Mokobodi is ‘one of the best’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/pirates-ouaddou-says-mokobodi-is-one-of-the-best",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T07:34:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/local-soccer/pirates-ouaddou-mokobodi-one-best/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised Thapelo Mokobodi, the 23-year-old midfielder, as 'one of the best' in the country after their victory over Kaizer Chiefs in a Soweto derby. Mokobodi, who joined Pirates from Stellenbosch FC this season, has already scored two goals and provided four assists in 14 appearances for the team. Two of those assists were crucial on Saturday, with Mokobodi setting up Yanela Mbuthuma for a deflected goal and breaking the offside trap to assist Tshepang Moremi in scoring.\n\nMokobodi had previously played under Ouaddou at Marumo Gallants, where the Moroccan coach helped the team avoid relegation in the 2024/25 season. Ouaddou recognized Mokobodi's exceptional qualities when they first met, and was thrilled when the club signed him. Ouaddou commended Mokobodi's versatility, intelligence, goal-scoring ability, assist skills, and strong values. The Pirates coach expressed confidence in Mokobodi's future, stating that he is 'one of the best midfielders of the country'. With Mokobodi's continued contributions, Pirates now eyes the Carling Black Label Knockout quarterfinals, with a home match against Sekhukhune United scheduled for this weekend.",
  "summary": "'I predict a great future for this boy,' said the Pirates head coach.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}