Ghost must close ranks and back Gabuza
Ihave said this before and I feel I must do it again. If you were not in the changeroom and heard what the coach wants from his players, just know that your opinion is just that – your opinion. The minute you start pushing it as fact, is the minute you are bound to do some damage to someone’s career.
I am repeating this based on the unfortunate incident that happened this week which led to heated debates among fans and pundits. It started when Orlando Pirates fans started booing striker Thamsanqa Gabuza even before the match kicked off.
This ended badly when he angrily threw his shirt at them and signalled he was substituting himself as they wanted. This was after he had helped the team into the lead when his cross was deflected by a Black Leopards defender into his own net.
Many took to social media and vilified Gabuza for his reaction, some saying he was being unprofessional and should not have reacted the way he did. Some defended him, saying he was human, with feelings and the booing had become too much to bear.
Gabuza has had a long love-hate relationship with the Ghost and it was not the first time they had booed him. But the latest events hurt him even more because one Portia Modise singled him out as a player she would play ahead of if she was allowed to.
Modise may not have realised the damage she caused because
Sibongiseni Gumbi
she might have said what she said in a light-hearted manner and picked Gabuza because she knew he was a strong boy and had weathered many storms, but the results of her utterances have had a huge impact. They were the catalyst for the booing.
I will not blame Modise because she has a right to her own opinion no matter how lethal her tongue is, some will still give her the microphone and airtime. I put the blame squarely on the Pirates supporters, the people who should have jumped to Gabuza’s defence and made him realise that whatever is being said about him is just other people’s opinions.
After all, in isiZulu we say “Asikho esindlebende kwabo” which means even the madman is loved by his family. The Ghost know Gabuza’s limitations and they are allowed to have a go at him, but when outsiders comment on the player, they should protect him – they claim to be a family and that is what families do.
And for them to think that Gabuza is not worthy to be in their team is an indictment on the same coaches whose praises they sing. Gabuza has been at Pirates for five years now and all the coaches, from Roger de Sa to Micho, have used him. This means there is something they see in him – that he makes a good contribution.
Yes, to the naked eye his contribution should be goals, which he has admittedly not contributed much of, but there is a deeper role he plays, which is why almost every player who has ever been his colleague either at club or national team level has jumped to his defence.
Before I end this piece, let me leave you with something to chew on. Before joining Pirates and partnering Gabuza up front, Kermit Erasmus had not scored more than six goals in a season. Go and check his stats at Bucs and look at how things are going for him right now.