Orlando Pirates defended over recent slip-up – ‘You cannot compare them to Sundowns’

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Mpho Makola has defended the club’s title challenge, arguing that the responsibility for scoring goals should be shared among the entire team, not just placed on the shoulders of a single striker.

The Buccaneers‘ leading goalscorers in the Premiership this season are Relebohile Mofokeng with nine goals and Oswin Appollis with seven. They are followed by midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi, who has found the net six times. Meanwhile, strikers Evidence Makgopa and Yanela Mbuthuma have contributed five and four goals, respectively.

Despite criticism of the team’s forwards, Makola believes the current setup is effective. “I think holistically, everybody has to chip in when it comes to goals. It cannot entirely be on the number nine,” Makola told Soccer Laduma.

Do the Buccaneers lack a lethal No.9?

“The number nine they have right now (Mbuthuma) does a lot of work off the ball. As much as his goal-scoring ratio is not so impressive, I still feel like he is playing a key role and he can only get better.”

Makola acknowledged the desire for a more clinical finisher but framed it as a broader issue within South African football.

“Yes, you could say that they need a lethal number nine, but it’s been a constant battle in our country to get a top striker, unless it’s someone from overseas,” he explained. “It’s not a Pirates problem, but a national problem honestly.”

Orlando Pirates lauded for their title fight

While Pirates remain second in the league, recent dropped points have given Mamelodi Sundowns a clear advantage in the title race. However, Makola insists that comparing the two clubs is unfair, citing the financial disparity between them.

“We need to give Pirates a big hand. They are really fighting with what they have because you cannot compare them to Sundowns in terms of financial status and bringing in players from overseas,” he stated. “With local-based players, they’ve done well. You can see that there is hunger and they want the league.”

Makola concluded with praise for his former team’s efforts, expressing confidence in their future. “I am glad they have been playing well and I am glad that they will hopefully take the title race to the last day. If they don’t do it this season, it’s only a matter of time before they win the league and are on top again.”