Majoro backs Mbuthuma to silence Orlando Pirates critics after Gabuza comparison

Former Orlando Pirates striker Lehlohonolo Majoro believes Yanela Mbuthuma can overcome criticism from the club’s supporters, drawing parallels with Thamsanqa Gabuza’s difficult spell at the Soweto club.

Mbuthuma, 24, faced growing frustration from the “Ghost” faithful after struggling to score from the latter part of last season into the opening stages of the current campaign. However, he has responded with two assists and two goals in Pirates’ past two matches in the MTN8 and Betway Premiership respectively.

The forward has also been included in coach Pitso Mosimane’s preliminary squad for the forthcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea and Eritrea.

Majoro discussed Mbuthuma’s situation with iDiski Times journalist Lethabo Kganyago in edition 271 of the newspaper. He compared the striker’s experience with the treatment Gabuza received from Pirates supporters during his time with the club.

The former South Africa international said Mbuthuma’s contribution should not be judged only by his goals, insisting the striker’s work rate and willingness to help the team remain important qualities. Majoro added that Mbuthuma’s barren run, like Gabuza’s before it, would eventually come to an end.

“Look, I knew Mbuthuma from Richards Bay,” Majoro told iDiski Times.

“Even when Luvuyo Memela used to play for them, I used to tell him I like the energy of that boy. I like the way he fights because, in football, at some point you need to go the extra mile by fighting. You can’t always play clean, and each and every player has their style of play.

‘His style of play is about exerting effort, and he gets rewarded most of the time when he fights like that. It’s just unfortunate that the Orlando Pirates supporters would want to see a striker being the one who is always at the end of that final pass.

“They wouldn’t see the runs that he makes, the effort that he puts in order to make sure that the team regains the ball quickly from the opponent so that they can start their own attack. Those are the things that coaches look at. Those are the things that football requires. You can’t always be a footballer who shows up only when their team is in possession.

‘Only [Lionel] Messi can do that in this football generation, as many coaches have said, so I believe his time will come when he’s going to score, and everyone will forget about this thing. We had a colleague in [Thamsanqa] Gabuza, where they were on his case the same way that they are on Mbuthuma.

“I was there; I know how it feels, and I played in that position. Even myself, at some point, there were supporters that were on my case if I didn’t score. I know the feeling, and I believe that Mbuthuma doesn’t go into the field of play and say, ‘Today I’m going to miss’.”

Majoro said the demands placed on a striker often mean supporters focus on the final touch, while overlooking the movement and defensive work that create opportunities for the team. In Mbuthuma’s case, he believes those off-ball efforts are central to Pirates’ attempts to win possession back quickly and launch attacks.

The forward’s recent improvement comes after a challenging period in front of goal. His two goals and two assists over the club’s last two matches have eased some of the pressure, while his inclusion in Mosimane’s preliminary international squad provides another indication of his current standing.

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