Former Orlando Pirates forward Lehlohonolo Majoro has disclosed what he likes about the club’s promising striker Boitumelo Radiopane.
Radiopane was unexpectedly chosen as the primary striker at the start of the 2025/26 PSL season, a decision that sparked considerable debate among SA football fans, as he was picked ahead of experienced campaigners such as Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa.
The 23-year-old initially started the first three games of the season for Pirates, with his fourth appearance coming off the bench. However, his output of just one assist in those matches was disappointing.
Since then, the Buccaneers’ academy graduate has found himself on the sidelines, as coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has reverted to using the more experienced Makgopa and Mabasa as his preferred starting strikers.
MAJORO HAILS RADIOPANE’S ‘EXPLOSIVENESS’
Majoro praised Radiopane’s unique qualities, specifically singling out the young striker’s explosiveness as a trait that truly sets him apart.
“I like Radiopane; he’s a youngster, he’s explosive, and he helps the team in terms of putting pressure when they lose the ball upfront and making those runs,” Majoro told FARPost.
“Yes, he’s still young and growing. I know, as a striker, the longer it takes for you to score a goal, the more pressure you have.”
Majoro also touched upon coach Ouaddou’s selections, stating that any external criticism of the choice to start Radiopane over Makgopa and Mabasa at the start of the season might be misguided, as Ouaddou possesses the crucial, in-depth knowledge gained from daily training sessions.
“The thing is, we don’t know the coach’s philosophy and plan. We only see when they play games on weekends because we don’t see what happens in training from Monday until we see players playing on matchday,” he added.
“So, that on its own is going to be a bit difficult for you and me to argue about who should be starting ahead of the other, and that’s the coach’s job. I know we are all coaches in our heads, and we will be saying the coach should have done this and that.”
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