Bollywood HungamaSaif Ali Khan sells Bandra west apartment for Rs 4.11 croresESPN Deportes¿Cómo la Hormiga González ha perdido minutos en el Olympiacos?ESPNWatt lands new deal as full-time CBS lead analyst replacement for RomoRTP DesportoSporting de Braga - GentThe Jerusalem PostIsraeli intelligence helps Saudi Arabia target Houthis as IDF prepares for potential escalationInquirer6 nabbed as cops seize P2.1-M ‘shabu’ in Metro ManilaDaily MaverickSOUND POLLUTION: Stadium noise and nuisance put Nelson Mandela Bay residents’ rights on the lineVarietyFormer Eminem Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing and Selling Unreleased MusicZDF heuteEntdecken Sie das ZDF-NachrichtenstudioRMF24Limit wynagrodzeń i czasu pracy lekarzy. Sejm zdecydowałCollider5 Netflix Shows With a Perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, RankedSudinfo« Sa jambe a atteint la taille d’une pastèque » : une morsure d’araignée plonge Glenn, un retraité de 73 ans, dans 18 jours de cauchemar
The Daily Newsstand · Free, Always
Thursday, October 22, 2026

Meet the three Orlando Pirates youngsters nicknamed “Messi”

Translate

Orlando Pirates’ Jacob Serman, Khumoetsile Van Schalkwyk and Ofentse Moeletsi share a rather special nickname. It is from none other than the greatest ever football player Lionel Messi.

To make it more exciting, Serman, Van Schalkwyk and Moeletsi play for different dvisions within Buccaneers youth.

THREE ORLANDO PIRATES YOUNGSTERS NICKNAMED MESSI

Jacob Serman

Formerly with SuperSport United, Serman is an exciting attacking midfielder and winger who has also turned out for rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

The left-footed youngster won multiple Under-13 and Under-14 Gauteng Development League titles before making the high-profile move to their Soweto rivals.

A elegant technician has reportedly trained with the club’s DStv Diski Challenge squad.

Khumoetsile Van Schalkwyk

Van Schalkwyk, meanwhile, is a versatile winger capable of playing on either flank. Capable of being the next Relebohile Mofokeng, he is originally from Stella, he developed through regional sides including Masokolara FC, SACOV FC and Sol Plaatje FC before joining the North West University Soccer Institute.

Wearing the number 23 shirt, Van Schalkwyk has earned recognition for his football intelligence and long-range shooting ability. He is part of the Pirates DStv Diski Challenge team.

Ofentse Moeletsi

Moeletsi completes the trio. The 21-year-old attacker first attracted attention while playing for Highlands Park’s Under-19 team, where his ability to beat defenders on either wing caught the eye.

He later featured in the DStv Diski Challenge setup at Sekhukhune United before moving to Orlando Pirates. Moeletsi has featured in the club’s ABC Motsepe League and DStv Diski Challenge structures.

NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT

The nickname Messi is associated with exceptional dribbling, creativity and football intelligence, qualities that have helped make Lionel Messi one of the greatest players of his generation.

Although the nickname alone does not guarantee success, Serman, Van Schalkwyk and Moeletsi have opportunities to develop their talents within one of South Africa’s biggest football clubs.

HAVE YOU ANY OF THEM IN ACTION?

Share your thoughts by clicking on the red comments block below.

View the original on The South African →

KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.