Evidence Makgopa: Why Bafana coach is worried about Pirates striker

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has voiced his surprise over the limited playing time for national team regular Evidence Makgopa at his club, Orlando Pirates, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon.

Makgopa has been a consistent feature in Broos’s squads for key Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.

Despite his importance to the national setup, the striker has struggled for consistent minutes at the club level. In recent matches, Yanela Mbuthuma has often been the preferred starter. Over the last four games for Pirates, Makgopa was absent from the match-day squad twice and was used as a substitute in the other two.

Broos surprised by Evidence Makgopa’s situation

Speaking on Marawa Sports Worldwide, Broos discussed his team’s preparations and selection criteria, highlighting his bewilderment at Makgopa’s situation at his club.

The Belgian coach mentioned that while he has been in contact with Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou on other matters, the lack of club action for key national players complicates his job significantly.

“Sometimes I’m surprised to see players who suddenly don’t play anymore,” Broos stated.

Bafana coach’s World Cup plans complicated

“They’re on the bench, or they’re not even on the bench; they’re in the stands. And I ask myself, what is happening?”

“I can give you an example: Makgopa doesn’t play anymore at Pirates. What is the reason? That makes my job difficult,” he continued.

“Certainly, when you are preparing for major tournaments, selecting a player who hasn’t played for months creates a problem. For me, it’s a surprise not seeing him play.”