The two Orlando Pirates under 17 players who departed to Netherlands on Wednesday to begin training with FC Twente, started training with the Dutch giants yesterday.

Nhlankhanipo ‘Nanana’ Ntuli and Tshepo Liphoko, two former SA U17 national team skippers, will be in Netherlands for two months and two weeks respectively.

According to Head of Youth Development at Orlando Pirates, Professor Augusto Palacios, the duo have been monitored the Dutch outfit for the past two years, as they played in various international youth tournaments, including the prestigious U15 Manchester United Premier Cup.

Ntuli who captained Orlando Pirates U15’s last year in the team’s historic second place finish in that tournament, said on Thursday (last week) that he is determined to do his best to stay in Holland.

“This is my second time going over and I think they liked what they saw in me. Playing there is tough,” he says. “Here we play the game enjoying it, but there it is more like you are working very hard… your mind is constantly working and the guys are focussed.

“I pray that everything goes well during my two month stay with them,” concluded Ntuli.

Meanwhile, Liphoko who will train with Twente for two weeks said: “This experience is good for my game… I hope to gain a lot of experience from this trip – I thank Coach Palacios who prepared me last week… he allowed me to train with the first team and I feel confident of making a lasting impression in Holland.”