Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has saluted Pitso Mosimane for validating his belief in Yanela Mbuthuma by calling up the striker to the Bafana Bafana squad.
Mbuthuma was a surprise inclusion in Mosimane’s squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea on Saturday and Eritrea four days later. Bafana are also set to face Egypt in an international friendly match in Cairo on October 4.
With Lyle Foster excluded and Evidence Makgopa injured, Mosimane turned to Mbuthuma, Cassius Mailula and Iqraam Rayners as centre-forward options. Mbuthuma would be hoping to be given a run inside a familiar venue Orlando Amstel Arena, where South Africa will host Guinea.
Earlier in the season, Ouaddou was criticising Mbuthuma as he struggled for goals. But with the striker under fire from fans, the Buccaneers coach changed tune to defend his forward, who has managed just two goals and as many assists in 10 games across all competitions this season.
MOSIMANE NOTICING MBUTHUMA’S ‘QUALITY’ EXCITES ABDESLAM OUADDOU
The Pirates coach boldly says Mbuthuma “has something”, with the two coaches agreeing on the player’s quality.
“You always need to work if you want to be the best in your position. If you want to be at the top of the log, if you want to win titles, you need to push yourself and work all the time,” Ouaddou told the media.
“First of all, I’m very happy, and again, I thank coach Pitso for noticing the quality of this boy. If I notice that this boy has quality, and coach Pitso notices as well that he has quality, I think this boy has something.
“So, it’s a big answer to all people who have doubts about this boy. It’s not that he is in the national team that he is going to stop working.
“I will be behind him to push him to be at his best and to continue working specifically in areas of finishing. Even I, as a coach, am 47 years old; when you stop learning, it’s the end of your life.
“Everybody here [at Pirates] still has to learn. So if I still have to learn, many people in my club still have to work to be the best.”
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