I didn’t want to return to Pirates, says Makhubela

Playing for a club as prestigious as Orlando Pirates is a dream for many players, but Ntsako Makhubela was reluctant about returning to the side after a successful spell away.

The 28-year-old midfielder earned game time and found form at Durban team Lamontville Golden Arrows from 2019 to 2021. He was among the players who were crucial to Abafana Bes’thende recording their best DStv Premiership finish of fourth place in the 2020-21 season.

His eye-catching performances led to Pirates, where he was a youth player, signing him back ahead of last season. The skilful midfielder has battled to replicate his famous slick moves at Bucs, and is yet to play in a competitive match this season.

He featured in the final of the Carling Black Label Cup friendly tournament just before the 2022 World Cup break, where Pirates lost 4-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The player made 16 appearances in all competitions last season under then co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi, who also coached him at Arrows, and Fadlu Davids.

In an interview with TimesLIVE during an Adidas x and Pirates activation, Makhubela spoke about his time at the Sea Robbers and how coming through development at the club made him understand what it takes to be a Pirates player.

“I grew up here [at Pirates, playing for their lower league reserve team Yebo Yes United] and I was loaned out [to first-division Real Kings] to get experience.

“I left as a kid and came back as an adult who knows what is required as an Orlando Pirates player.

“I actually asked to be loaned out because back then they had great players such as Oupa Manyisa and Benni [McCarthy], and I was still a school kid. After I finished matric in 2012, I asked if they could loan me out so I could get game time [elsewhere].”

When Pirates came calling for his services last year, Makhubela said he was not in favour of the move as he believed it would not be good for his career at that stage. “At first I didn’t want to come back, but I agreed and I played.

“Even when I was playing I hadn’t really come to terms with [being] back and I had to deal with that situation.”