Following the promising debut of Orlando Pirates striker Sifiso Luthuli,
his former coach Bushy Moloi has voiced his concerns over the scarcity of
classic, physical number nines in South African football.
Luthuli, a product of the Pirates development system, made an immediate
impact by scoring on his debut in the Carling Cup final, showcasing a
profile that has become increasingly rare. In an interview with the Siya
crew, Moloi argued that the traditional striker role is not outdated but has
simply become a missing piece in the local game.
“I can tell you now, if you go to Germany, all their strikers are tall. They
do well everywhere they go,” Moloi stated, pointing to a global trend. He
believes the issue stems from a shift in coaching philosophy. “It is our
situation, as South Africans, we don’t have a leg to stand on, where we
change our philosophy where it matters.”
Using successful local coaches as examples, Moloi highlighted the enduring
value of a target man. “Gavin Hunt stuck with his philosophy and won three
league titles in a row (with the likes of Glen Salmon, Fikru Tefera). I
believe it (the number nine position) is not that it is fading away. People
still miss those types of players. They are nowhere to be found in South
Africa.”
Moloi cited current Bafana Bafana striker Evidence Makgopa as a modern
example of the archetype and sees similar traits in Luthuli. “He runs a lot,
he dribbles, he heads, and Sifiso has got a good shot. He’s tall… we need
such players.”
The former Baroka and Pretoria Callies coach concluded with a clear stance
on the issue, stating, “The traditional number nine position is not fading,
we just don’t have those types of players in South Africa anymore.”
