‘Pocket Mofokeng & Mbule, Pirates Won’t Rise’ – Ex-Chiefs winger

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has made a bold claim about Orlando Pirates following the start of the new season.

The Buccaneers began the season on shaky ground, with new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou's experimental tactics disrupting the squad. 

This was particularly evident in the case of fan favorite Relebohile Mofokeng, whose position was given to new signing Oswin Appollis. 

Mofokeng has since struggled, failing to register a single goal or assist, a situation Khanye believes could be a major indicator of Pirates’ season trajectory.

Khanye says Pirates’ success usually comes through individual brilliance, particularly of the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Sipho Mbule.

‘IT COMES BACK FROM OLDEN DAYS’

“Can Pirates win the league? At Pirates you need certain players to perform, they rely on individual brilliance, you need Rele to do something special,” Khanye said on his YouTube Channel as quoted by Soccer Laduma.

“Once you pocket Rele or (Sipho) Mbule, I don't think Pirates can rise. Certain players, three, four (if they don't show up), I don't think Pirates can rise. It's more of an individual team.

“We can't question it, it comes from way back with the likes of (the late) Gift Leremi, ‘Cheese' (Lebohang Mokoena), Tso (Benedict Vilakazi), ‘Dukuduku' (Joseph Makhanya). Pirates need certain players for them to win. Challenging the league, they have potential.”