Tsamaya

This week’s soccer buzz

● We love Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rulani Mokwena for igniting what could have been another boring build-up to yesterday’s Soweto derby.

Mokwena instigated a lively debate this week when he said a thing or two about the Kaizer Chiefs bench and some of the club’s players.

What we loved most about Mokwena was that he didn’t need any provoking before he let out a stinging left hook to the jaws of those in the Chiefs technical team, calling them helpless and weak without the services of former coach Steve Komphela.

Tsamaya demands that next time there’s a Soweto derby, the centre stage be given only to those like Mokwena who don’t need a second invitation to bless us with their honest opinions. We are tired of comments like “everything is cool in the camp” when we know that the opposite is the truth.

● What astonished us most about Mokwena’s comments, though, was his insight of Kaizer Chiefs striker Leonardo Castro’s fitness and whereabouts ahead of the derby.

Mokwena said he would not be surprised if Castro had run to his wife in Colombia because he was injured. When told that Castro was around and probably ready to face his team, Mokwena cut the long talk short by saying: “I will speak to you after the match about Leonardo Castro.”

● Reacting to Mokwena’s comments Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas tried hard to avoid making him a big issue. Instead he said the only person he knew at Pirates was his counterpart, Milutin Sredojevic.

Well, Mr Solinas, we hope you did take a good look at Mokwena’s face yesterday since you’ll need to respond to someone you know when the next round of the derby comes along.