Former Orlando Pirates striker Bruce Ramokadi has urged the club to make Thalente Mbatha’s stay permanent when his loan deal expires in June.
Mbatha is currently on loan from SuperSport United after arriving at the start of the year following his lack of game time under Gavin Hunt.
He has fitted in like a hand in a glove under Jose Riveiro, and for this reason, Ramokadi doesn’t see why Pirates cannot buy him.
Pirates have a buyout clause on Mbatha’s loan agreement with SuperSport United, and Ramokadi believes taking it will be a wise decision.
He feels Mbatha is a better player than the majority of Pirates midfielders – old and new – and he wants Riveiro to play him regularly.
Despite only arriving at the start of the year, the 24-year-old has featured in 18 matches across all competitions, nine of which are league games.
The KwaMashu-born midfield anchor has a single goal and an assist to his name since his arrival at the Soweto giants.
ORLANDO PIRATES URGED BUY MBATHA FROM SUPERSPORT UNITED
“That boy can play. He’s far ahead of those that were signed by Pirates. They did well by signing him. A team needs midfielders who can score goals,” Ramokadi told Isolezwe.
“For me, he has to play all Pirates games, and he shouldn’t be substituted. He’s made a huge difference in that Pirates midfield since he arrived. He defends, he attacks and he doesn’t waste too much time on the ball,” he added.
RAMOKADI WANTS RIVEIRO TO CONSULT WITH PAST LEAGUE WINNERS
Meanwhile, Ramokadi has advised Riveiro to at least consult with coaches who previously delivered league titles at Pirates.
According to Ramokadi, it is clear that the Spaniard cannot win the DStv Premiership, and that’s because there’s no consistency in his Bucs starting line-up.
Furthermore, the 1995 CAF Champions League winner added that the Sea Robbers should fight tooth and nail to finish second and return to continental football.
“Pirates must play in the CAF Champions League and not in the CAF Confederation Cup. They must fight hard to finish second. It’s clear that it’s difficult for the coach to win the league,” continued Ramokadi.
“His biggest problem is that he chops and changes his starting line-up. He needs to sit down with coaches who previously won the league with Pirates so that they can advise him on what he needs to do,” concluded Ramokadi.
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