Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou explained the absence of striker Evidence Makgopa in their 2-1 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Makgopa is one the players that has played a hige role at Pirates when it comes to challenging for the league title this season. The 25-year old striker scored three goals and laid three assists in the league.
Buccaneers lost one league game where Makgopa featured this season and that was against Marumo Gallants, Buccaneers might have felt his absence last night against Sundowns but Ouaddou explained Makgopa’s absence.
“Yeah, first of all, I have to specify that Makgopa could not be on the team yesterday, because he was injured,” Ouaddou explained to the media.
“So he could not be on the team. But of course, it’s an area of concern for me, because if you have followed my previous press conferences over the past few months, we can see that it’s an area we must be efficient in.
“After all, it’s the reality of football. When we want to be more ambitious, we need to be clinical. And of course, we keep working, and we don’t stop working with the guys, but you have to understand as well that we have a young team, young strikers.
“And I just mentioned it before, it’s important when you develop the players, they have potential, but you need to be patient with them. It’s the philosophy of the club, and we accept it.
“But maybe if you want to go quicker, you go spend R10 million or R20 million round, and I think maybe you will have somebody efficient from abroad.
“But the philosophy of our club, is to promote young talent in the country. And I’m sure there is a lot of talent in South Africa.
“And it’s a policy that I respect, but I mean, at the same time you have to be very patient, you know, that’s it.”