According to the Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi, Buccaneers’ top goalscorers would not score as many goals without Mbuthuma’s work off the ball.
Footballer of the Season contenders Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng have taken the shine with 11 goals each.
YANELA MBUTHUMA’S SILENT CONTRIBUTION
Meanwhile, Mbuthuma, playing as the centre forward, has delivered five goals and one assist in 19 appearances. This return has invited pressure and criticism from sections of the fanbase.
Also read: Former Pirates coach sees Bucs edging tight Soweto derby
Former captain Lucky Lekgwathi believes the criticism misses the bigger picture when it comes to Mbuthuma’s role in the team.
“We can say strikers don’t score goals, but I’m looking at [Yanela] Mbuthuma the way he’s playing,”Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.
“The boy is working very hard. I think he deserves credit for the goals because he always creates space for them, works for them.
“You look at the goals that they score, Mbuthuma will make sure that he creates space, takes the defenders away. And for Appollis, Rele and [Tshepang] Moremi, it’s easy for them to score goals because of the mobile defender, the way the boy [Mbuthuma] works,” the Orlando Pirates legend added.
DEFINING MOMENTS OF THE SEASON
Lekgwathi, fondly known as “Phinda Mzala,” said that when looking at the Seas Robbers’ form, the team has been scoring consistently in recent matches and believes nothing will stop them from continuing that run as long as they maintain their current work rate.
He added that the players are putting in effort across all areas, defending and attacking, and feels there is strong motivation driving them, especially with the league nearing its end, noting that they deserve recognition.
He further stated that the players are aware of the individual awards at stake and are working towards them. He believes both are close to earning nominations for honours such as Player of the Season and are pushing themselves in big matches, including against Kaizer Chiefs, where strong performances, Man of the Match displays and goals could boost their chances of winning the Footballer of the Season award.
The former Orlando Pirates skipper added that there is added motivation coming from ambitions beyond the league, including opportunities with Bafana Bafana and the World Cup.
DO YOU AGREE WITH LUCKY LEKGWATHI?
Share your thoughts by clicking on the red comments block below.
