Ex-Kaizer Chiefs star slams Orlando Pirates for overreliance on Relebohile Mofokeng - 'Other players at the Buccaneers when they are tested pound for pound, can’t even raise their hands'

Orlando Pirates were beaten 2-0 by Marumo Gallants in a Premier Soccer League match last Saturday.

That saw the Buccaneers going 18 points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in this PSL title race, although the Soweto giants have four games in hand.

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has blamed other Pirates players for not showing up when realising that Relebohile Mofokeng is being tightly marked.

“You can see there are games that are won by certain players not by a team,” said Khanye on iDiski TV.
“Pirates when they lose everybody can blame you and say Pirates didn’t play well, I compliment this boy, Mofokeng. This boy I won’t fault him if he is not performing.

"Pressure is always on the boy and how old is he? Every time he gets the ball and not just in the Marumo Gallants game, three, four games this boy you can see there is always someone assigned to monitor the boy and someone needs to cover," added the former Amakhosi wideman.  
“He is so skilful; he is intelligent now he gets frustrated because he is still maturing in his game. The boy has won so many games for Orlando Pirates so much that you can’t even tell Pirates supporters that he won the game for them with Tito Maswanganyi complementing him.
“In games like this, other players at Orlando Pirates when they are tested pound for pound, they can’t even raise their hands. I’m referring to the likes of [Thalente] Mbatha and Kabelo Dlamini who were nowhere to be seen.”

Mofokeng has struggled to thrive in Pirates' recent games, suggesting opponents have mastered how to contain him.

If it continues that way, coach Jose Riveiro will have to come up with plans to make other players show up when the 20-year-old is closely monitored.

Pirates have entered a very demanding stage of their season where they are trying to strike a balance between domestic and continental responsibilities and Riveiro will be hoping Mofokeng does not lose steam.

Pirates visit Chippa United for Wednesday's PSL match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, trying to recover from the Gallants setback.

It is a match Mofokeng will be trying to pick himself and have an influence in the game.