Mbuthuma responds to critics as Orlando Pirates goals begin to flow

Yanela Mbuthuma answered questions over his finishing by scoring twice in Orlando Pirates’ 4-0 win over Kruger United on Tuesday evening, taking his tally to four goal contributions in his past two matches.

The 25-year-old striker had previously supplied two assists in Pirates’ 3-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final. His latest display continued an encouraging spell of form at a significant point in the campaign.

Mbuthuma has at times come under pressure from some Orlando Pirates supporters, who have questioned whether he makes the most of the chances that come his way. His performance against Kruger United provided a timely response, with his goals helping Pirates secure a convincing victory.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Mbuthuma said the match was not as comfortable as the result suggested. He praised the work-rate of Kruger United and explained that Pirates had to remain committed to the plan set out by their coach.

“What I can say is that the game was very difficult because they [Kruger United] ran a lot. What the coach planned was for us to win and show that they are not better than us. We had to work hard to get this many goals.”

The striker said Pirates were also instructed to remain patient and continue attacking, with the expectation that opportunities would eventually appear.

“The coach told us to just keep pushing and that the chances would come and when they did, we managed to convert them,” he added.

Mbuthuma’s recent contribution has not been limited to scoring. His two assists against Sekhukhune United came before his brace against Kruger United, underlining his ability to influence games in more than one way.

The forward believes Orlando Pirates are creating enough opportunities for their attacking players to make a difference. For him, the key is to remain composed rather than allow the responsibility of playing as a striker to create additional pressure.

He also thanked the Pirates supporters for their backing, while acknowledging the demands that come with leading the attack.

“I’m grateful for the support from the fans. It’s not easy being a striker, to be honest. As a striker, you don’t have to put yourself under pressure because when you look at it game by game, we do create chances, and that is why I was able to convert them and I am very happy about that,” Mbuthuma concluded.