Mr Man-of-the-Match Nyatama is revelling as Bucs’ heartbeat
● The first of the seven man-of-thematch awards he has scooped this season is not at his house.
On the night in question, Ghanaian Bernard Morrison sealed all three points for the Sea Robbers.
But it was Musa Nyatama who got the nod for best performer on the pitch.
After the match, in the Orlando Pirates dressing room, Nyatama, award in hand, walked up to his assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena. The following conversation ensued between the two:
MN: “Coach, this award is for you.”
RM: “How can it be mine? It is yours.” MN: “I’m giving it to you because you’ve helped me to be the player that I am.”
Mokwena thought Nyatama was joking and duly left the award on the bench.
Under the impression that the player had forgotten his prize, one of the Pirates security personnel picked it up and handed it to Nyatama.
“Take it coach, I’m giving it to you, please,” insisted the player, and the coach reluctantly obliged. It takes pride of place in Mokoena’s cabinet.
The above profiles the type of person and kind of character that is Nyatama — a selfless, humble person who puts others before him. Individual awards don’t mean much more than being a mere reflection of the contribution of others in his life.
You very seldom get players dedicating their man-of-the-match awards to their coaches. You hardly come across a player who subscribes to the dictum of “I am because of others”.
We’ve lost that type of footballer in this country; they are a rare sight like the teeth of a chicken. What has made that first man-of-the-match award to be followed by a half-a-dozen more others?
Anyone who has watched the former Thanda Royal Zulu, Mamelodi Sundowns, Maritzburg United and Bloemfontein
A selfless, humble person who puts others before him
Celtic player before switching allegiance to Pirates in August, has no doubt about his talent.
Technically, the most important transformation that has propelled him to the fulcrum of Pirates has been the positional shift that coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has deployed Nyatama in.
The Nyatama that played for Sundowns was more of an eight and 10. The one who played for Celtic operated as a 10 and second striker. Pirates prefer to play him at six as a deep-lying playmaker with a bigger sense of responsibility from which he is reaping the rewards of a bigger profile.
The role allows him the authority to initiate moves and process play in a co-ordinated manner. It also demands that he assist the team to have defensive balance and regain possession, and use it more efficiently. He has taken to the task with aplomb. Because has a BFB — beautiful football brain — he controls the midfield with consummate ease.
That positional change has made him the heartbeat of the evolution of the revolution currently under way at Pirates. The numbers agree: in 26 league games, he has started 25, posted a 80% passing accuracy, while averaging 88 passes a match.
So pleased is the coach with how he has performed the role, Sredojevic has given the player the moniker Musalinho. Why? Because he believes the boy born in Benoni 30 years ago and whose parents also named him Bloffis, yes Bloffis, has a Brazilian touch about him.
He has scored four times — against Baroka FC, former employers Celtic at home and away, and AmaZulu, as well as providing three assists.
Without doubt, Nyatama has been a crucial cog in Micho’s stated mission of restoring pride and respectability to the Bucs badge which was reduced to junk status during a horror show of a season in the 2016-17 campaign. As the Sea Robbers’ crusade of healing the tortured souls of The Ghost continues, it will be important for them to wrap Nyatama in cotton wool. Him staying on top of the game should not be too much of an ask. He works extremely hard, is disciplined and leads a good social life. That’s why Mr Man-of-the-Match is reveling in his Bucs heartbeat role.
Twitter: @bbkunplugged99