The coach of the Orlando Pirates team, Abdelslam Waddu, publicly addressed young attacking midfielder Simphiwe Masilela, urging him to meet modern football standards. He advised the player to use dribbling more often to advance forward and avoid the 'circus' of excessive showboating.
Masilela (22 years old) scored the third goal in Pirates' 3-0 victory against TS Galaxy. This win allowed the team to recover after a crushing 2-0 defeat in the MTN8 tournament final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
During the match, which took place on Tuesday evening at the Orlando stadium, Masilela scored the third goal of the evening and his first goal in Buccaneers' colors, after goals were opened by Boitumelo Radiopane and Tshepang Moremi.
Waddu has long criticized the habits of South African footballers, especially among players on his own Pirates team, noting the tendency to play for the fans when the team has an advantage.
On Tuesday evening, the coach decided to take the opportunity to condemn this trend once again. He stated to Masilela: 'This is what modern football demands from such a talented player as him—to use verticality and score these goals. The coach has never forbidden him showboating, but (he must) continue scoring three goals, scoring four goals, and moving forward.'
He continued, emphasizing his duty as a mentor striving to develop young athletes: 'It is my duty as a coach, as a person who loves developing young players... to remind him what a high level is, but if he wants to turn it into a circus, that is up to him.'
Waddu noted that on the day of the match, as well as in the MTN8 final over the weekend, Masilela showed himself as a high-class player—capable of operating between lines, dribbling, and overcoming two or three opponents with the intention to attack. 'This is what is required of players like him in modern football. It is competition for him. I am very happy for him, very happy for his family, and I hope he continues to work.'
Tapelo Mokobodi, who received the 'Man of the Match' award, congratulated Masilela on his first goal in the Pirates jersey, saying: 'I am happy for him; it is his first goal.'
The Buccaneers are preparing for two consecutive matches against the Namibian national team, African Stars, in the second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League. Waddu will take the team on a trip on Saturday for the match starting at 15:00, and the return match will be held at the Orlando stadium on Friday, October 23, at 19:00.
