Agent Gary Cassisa has discussed criticism on why Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa was seemingly less preferred by Jose Riveiro and Hugo Broos, even though his numbers are high.
Mabasa was on fire at Pirates since he returned on loan from Moroka Swallows, in January 2024, finishing the 2023/24 season with an overall tally of 19 goals in all competitions.
However, the 28-year-old forward had to prove himself for a starting berth when the new season started, especially in the big games, with Evidence Makgopa preferred.
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There has been criticism that Mabasa, even under such circumstances, after he finished the 2024/25 campaign as Pirates' leading goal-scorer with 15 goals (Makgopa finished with 10 goals), was not liked much by the Spaniard because he does not do as much work as the former Baroka striker off the ball.
Cassisa believes, however, that Mabasa has improved his game tremendously when it comes to tracking back and covering spaces when The Buccaneers are without the ball.
"He's done extra work behind the scenes, he's worked really hard, you can see his body, he's fit, he's in good shape," Cassisa told KickOff.com.
"He averages about 8 kilometers on the field. You can see the running he does to come back and defend.
"Have you ever seen Mabasa standing on the field much? He's putting all the hard work behind the scenes to perform like that, it's not only coming from training at Pirates. So he has done the sacrifice, he has done what he needed to do."
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With the Soweto giants in search of a new coach, after Riveiro left for Al Ahly, would Mabasa get a change of fortunes?
"Maybe, but you don't know, coaches are different, they like certain players more than others," Cassisa went on.
"What happens if another coach comes in and likes Makgopa because he's big, he holds the ball?
"But the stats are there for the last two seasons, why would you not select him as your number one striker based on those stats? Stats don't lie," Cassisa stated.
Mabasa is the second-highest leading goal-scorer of all time at Pirates with 46 goals, 34 of those goals from the past two seasons and yet his last feature in the Bafana squad was in September, October 2021.
