Orlando Pirates are building their success on mostly young players. However, one stalwart is bucking that trend.
Hunt rates veteran Makhaula as the best Orlando Pirates player
Speaking on SuperSport TV at the weekend, Gavin Hunt believes Teboho Mokoena is the best player in the land, but his favourite Orlando Pirates player might surprise you. Meanwhile, he’s not convinced Lucas Ribeiro would shine at a smaller club.
“Ribeiro scores goals, but if you put him in Magesi, he will struggle. He would need to work harder there,” Hunt said on SuperSport TV.
“Teboho Mokoena is the best player in South Africa.
“At [Orlando] Pirates, the best player is the boy in the middle. I can’t say his name. It starts with an M. Makha… something. [Makhehleni Makhaula]. He is the best at Pirates. He is the glue.”
Makhaula’s stats paint a picture
35-year-old midfield general Makhaula has made 19 league appearances this term and 38 across all competitions. We don’t need to tell you how important he is to the Pirates cause under Jose Riveiro. Not many players born in the 80s still have this level of stamina in their tanks.
Soweto Derby double-header can make or break Orlando Pirates’ season
As fate would have it, Pirates and Chiefs meet twice in quick succession at the sharp end of the 2024-2205 campaign. First, they do battle in the Betway Premiership on Saturday, 03 May at 15:00. Then, they meet in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday, 10 May.
Is Makhaula indispensable?
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