BUCS STAR PLEADS FOR PATIENCE
Star urges fans to be patient as season starts
ORLANDO Pirates fans are known to be very demanding, but midfielder Mpho Makola has made a passionate plea for patience as they get their season under way against Golden Arrows tonight (Orlando Stadium, 7.30 pm). Not only do Pirates have a new coach in Muhsin Ertugral, but the club have brought in at least 10 new players. It is with this in mind that Makola has appealed to the Bucs faithful to look at the bigger picture. “The one thing I know about the Bucs fans is that they are impatient and my plea to them is that they be a bit patient with the new players, especially. Help them settle as quickly as possible, so we can get the best out of them,” he told Sowetan. The 30-year-old knows all too well about the struggles of trying to break into the Pirates starting XI. After all, it took him two full seasons to establish himself as a regular in the Bucs team. Makola arrived at Pirates in 2012 from Free State Stars and made just six starts. The next season he made 15. Now he has transformed himself into a permanent feature in the set-up. “It wasn’t easy for me when I first played here and it took me a while to actually get back on my feet, you know. “So my plea to the fans is that they give players a chance to adjust. Soon the supporters will see the best of everyone that has been signed,” he said. In terms of his own contribution, the Bafana Bafana midfielder is raring to go, especially after finishing last season as Pirates’ joint top scorer alongside Tendai Ndoro with 10 goals. Makola also contributed seven assists. “The last season was one of the best I’ve had in the PSL and I even got a Bafana call-up. I scored some great goals and I think I made the most starts since I’ve been at Pirates.”
Pirates’ new boy Abbubaker Mobara is suspended for tonight’s clash following his sending off at his last club, Ajax Cape Town.
Elsewhere, Bloemfontein Celtic host Maritzburg United (7.30pm).