Patience is virtue is Pirates’ rallying call

ORLANDO Pirates fans are known to be very demanding but the team’s midfielder Mpho “Bibo” Makola has made a passionate plea to them to be patient as they get their season under way against Golden Arrows tonight at Orlando Stadium (7.30pm).

Not only do Pirates have a new coach in Muhsin Ertugral, but the club has brought in at least 10 new players. It is with this in mind that “Bibo” has appealed to the Bucs faithful to look at the bigger picture.

“Obviously, the one thing I know about the Bucs fans is that they are impatient and my plea to them is that can 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,” Makola told the Dispatch

The 30-year-old knows all too well about the struggles of trying to break into the Pirates starting 11. After all, it took Makola 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 during the 2012-13 season. He made 15 starts in the next season, which was 2013-14.

Makola has, however, been one of Pirates’ regular players.

“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,” he reflected.

“So my plea to them is that please be patient with the new players so they can adjust quickly to how we do things here at Pirates and 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 the last one as Pirates’ joint top scorer alongside Tendai Ndoro with 10 goals. Makola also contributed seven assists.

“For me, 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,” he said

“So it is something I can take home and say, okay where can I improve? Hopefully I can do more than what I did last season. Last season was a confidence booster and it is something every player needs. I hope for the best.”

Makola is likely to be in the starting line-up against Abafana Bes’thende if the pre-season games are anything to go by as he has started most of their friendlies.

Pirates new boy Abbubaker Mobara will serve the last match of his suspension after getting a red card while playing for Ajax Cape Town against Maritzburg United in May.