Even Haaland will not be favoured! Mzansi fans slammed

Former South Africa international Nathan Paulse has hit out at Bafana Bafana supporters for unfairly criticising Orlando Pirates forward Evidence Makgopa.

Despite the stiff competition at both the club and the national team, the 25-year-old has always found his way around and delivered when given an opportunity, regardless of the opponent.

However, Makgopa has attracted nay-sayers who are not convinced of his capabilities, despite his contributions to teh Sea Robbers and the national team, Bafana Bafana.

Paulse insists even Erling Haaland, who has been scoring goals from right, left and centre, could still struggle get his flowers in Mzansi.

We lack players like him

“I don’t know him [Makgopa] personally, but just observing him, it is very hard, especially at that level, to have come in and make an impact when you are not the favoured choice in the position,” he said as quoted by iDiski Times.

“You don’t please the social media role, I call it that, the social media role of the exciting player, the skilful player. To still go out and do the job, massive credit to his mentality, and I would love to work with a player like that.

“If I’m very honest, we lack players like that in South Africa, and that’s not the players’ fault. I think it comes largely from how football has been set up and what the other narratives of that arrive to as a coach, you know, fans,” he continued.

Even Haaland?

I’d go as far as saying that even if [Erling] Haaland came to play in South Africa or if he came from South Africa, he would still not be a favoured player in perspective. All credit to Makgopa’s mentality. It shows why we as outsiders don’t get to work with the player one-on-one or see what he does behind the scenes,” the former striker continued.

So the national team coach has a very clear or understanding of what he wants from him and he does the job. And look, football at that level is about doing the job, and that’s something we have to learn, still, I think in South Africa.

“We can look good, have these skilful players, but ultimately the intention of the game is to score goals and to stop goals,” Paulse concluded.

At AFCON, Makgopa is expected to deputise Burnley forward Lyle Foster.