Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DANIEL Msendami’s Orlando Pirates move didn’t start in Soweto.
It started in Bulawayo, in the quiet frustration of being good enough to shine for Highlanders’ development side but not trusted with a first team shirt.
Highlanders development coach Melusi Mabaleka says the winger’s jump to the Buccaneers is proof that Zimbabwean talent is no longer just “promising”, it’s export ready, and ready for the biggest dressing rooms on the continent.
Msendami, 25, has signed for Pirates from Marumo Gallants, joining a club that measures players quickly and publicly, with trophies expected and patience limited. It’s a big stage, and Mabaleka believes the former Bosso youngster has earned it the hard way.
“This move is clear evidence of hard work and resilience,” said Mabaleka.
“Msendami’s journey shows that if a player stays disciplined and committed, opportunities will come.
“It is also a sign that there is genuine talent at development level that can go outside the country and compete at big clubs. For the young players coming through, this should be a huge motivation.”
For Msendami, the path has always been longer than the highlight clips.
Early in his career, he couldn’t crack the Highlanders first team, even after standing out at development level. In September 2022, Msendami joined Botswana giants Jwaneng Galaxy on a season long loan.
By January 2023, the club made it permanent, and he repaid them fast, helping Galaxy win the 2022–23 Botswana Premier League.
He didn’t stop there. He helped Galaxy lift the 2024 Botswana FA Cup and walked away with the Player of the Tournament award, then pushed them again to the 2023–24 league title. His form also earned him a Player of the Season nomination, a sign he wasn’t just contributing, he was driving results.
That run of performances opened South Africa in July 2024 when Marumo Gallants signed him on a two-year contract.
He featured 13 times, and one moment stood out, he scored against Orlando Pirates, the same club that has now come back for him.
Mabaleka says that history matters, but so does the warning that comes with it.
“Pirates is a club where reputations don’t protect you, performances do, and Msendami will be expected to deliver from the first training session.”
Msendami has never hidden what it took to get here.
“My journey hasn’t been easy it started a long time ago, and the beginning was very tough. I had to push hard to get where I am today,” he said.
He’s also clear about what Pirates fans should expect when he gets the ball, direct running, quick decisions, and a player who wants to hurt defenders instead of decorating the game.
“As a player, I’m very direct. Every time I get the ball, my mindset is to go forward, to attack, and to make things happen. I always look to drive forward and create opportunities,” he told Orlando Pirates media.
