If statistics were the sole deciding factor, Orlando Pirates striker
Tshegofatso Mabasa would be a firm fixture in the Bafana Bafana squad. This
is the view of Pirates legend Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi, who argues that
Mabasa’s superior scoring rate makes him a more potent option than the
currently preferred Evidence Makgopa.
Mabasa’s exclusion is a curious case. A striker who has scored 34 goals over
the last two seasons and has started the current campaign with four
goals—compared to Makgopa’s one—finds himself behind his teammate in the
pecking order for both club and country. This is despite Makgopa recently
receiving another national team call-up following the withdrawal of Iqraam
Rayners.
A Question of Playing Style
Vilakazi suggests the reason is not a lack of quality, but a mismatch with
the team’s tactical approach. He believes the current system under coach
Abdeslam Ouaddou, which relies on speed and quick transitions to the final
third, actually suits Mabasa better.
“How Pirates are playing, I don’t think they need Makgopa in that striking
force,” Vilakazi stated on the OmniAudioAfrica YouTube Channel. “You’ve got
[Oswin] Appollis on the left, [Tshepang] Moremi on the right, [Relebohile]
Mofokeng behind—those are players who will create chances. They just need
you in the box. And the player that’s always there in the box is Mabasa.”
Vilakazi elaborated that the team’s speedy wingers need a classic
penalty-box finisher, not a striker who drifts wide.
“They don’t need a striker that will make runs, like Makgopa does, when he
goes left or right… The only thing they need is to give service and you
punish in the box. There’s nothing wrong to play Makgopa, but he needs to be
in that box.”
Chasing History
The debate highlights a difficult period for Mabasa, who was also out of
favour earlier in the season. However, his quality is undeniable. In a
recent 2-0 win over TS Galaxy, he netted his 50th goal for the Soweto
giants, placing him just nine goals shy of breaking the club’s all-time
scoring record held by the legendary ‘Little Napoleon’.
