Former Orlando Pirates striker Lehlohonolo Majoro has weighed in on the performance of Evidence Makgopa, explaining what he believes is a “misunderstood” role for the forward at the Soweto giants.
According to Majoro, many fans fail to recognise Makgopa’s significant influence and importance to both Pirates and the national team. Makgopa is often criticised for his style of play, which relies heavily on hold-up play rather than pure goalscoring.
Despite the frequent criticism, Makgopa has consistently proven his value. In the previous campaign, the 25-year-old made 39 appearances for the Buccaneers, scoring 10 goals and providing two assists across all competitions.
This season, he has already made six appearances, contributing two assists, showing his continued importance to the Bucanners.
Majoro believes that Makgopa’s value lies not only in his statistics but also in his ability to link play, create space for teammates, and act as a crucial target man for the team’s attack.
LEHLOHONOLO MAJORO CLARIFIES WHAT MAKGOPA TRULY OFFERS TO ORLANDO PIRATES
The former Kaizer Chiefs striker, Majoro, went on to single out what makes Makgopa stand out and what he offers to Pirates.
‘Major’, as he is affectionately known, stressed that it requires someone who views the game with a unique perspective to recognise Makgopa’s influence on the pitch.
“With Makgopa, he’s tried and tested at Orlando Pirates. Most people don’t understand how Makgopa plays. However, I say there’s a lot that Makgopa brings to Orlando Pirates when he plays. It takes a person who is really passionate about football and someone who sees football with a certain eye, and the effect of Makgopa being part and parcel,” Majoro told FARPost.
“Makgopa’s hold-up play allows the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi to come and link up with him. He also makes runs behind because there are players like Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi, who have speed.
“The runs that Makgopa makes upfront draw the attention of the defenders to go there and open those spaces that Orlando Pirates want to exploit.”
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