Orlando Pirates legend Teboho Moloi has revealed his biggest wish for Fortune Makaringe, who has been struggling for game time since the start of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership.
Makaringe is facing stiff competition in the Pirates midfield under head coach José Riveiro.
Goodman Mosele, Miguel Timm and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo have been the preferred choice in the Buccaneers’ midfield position, leaving Makaringe frozen out of the team.
The dribbling wizard is a fan-favourite at the Soweto giants. However, Moloi stresses that his wish is for Fortune Makaringe to work on his defensive ability.
“For players like Makaringe, it’s not just about playing. It’s about the ability to defend also,” Moloi told FARPost.
“The only thing I wish is for him to realise that he can do the shifting, he can block the spaces, and he can protect the defence.
“He has to add a little bit of energy and strength whereby when Pirates have the ball. He can play.
“We know in terms of playing he’s good. He just needs to work on giving a team the shape. I believe that he will get to the energy level of Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali so that he’s able to defend and attack,” added Moloi.
In the current campaign, the 29-year-old star made eight appearances in the league, with most of the matches coming in as a second-half substitute.
Fortune Makaringe is in his fourth season at Pirates after joining the club from Maritzburg United at the start of the 2019/20 season.
The midfield maestro was part of the Team of Choice outfit that made it to the 2019 Nedbank Cup final, which they subsequently lost to Free State Stars.
The Sea Robbers will be looking to hit the ground running when the league resume at the end of December after the FIFA World Cup break that is ongoing in Qatar.
Pirates return to the Premiership action with a block-buster encounter against log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on the 30th of December at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
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