Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule has come under critical analysis from the coach who handed him his professional debut eight years ago.
Eric Tinkler was in charge at SuperSport United when Mbule made his senior team debut against ZESCO United in the CAF Confederation Cup in September 2017 as a teenager.
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They came to meet again at Sekhukhune United last season after Tinkler took over in March.
It was a short-lived reunion with Mbule playing only four games before the relationship between player and club went sour.
"Sipho is a talent," remarks Tinkler, who has previously worked at Pirates, where Mbule now plays.
Tinkler was asked about Mbule at the launch of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
"I watched the game (Pirates against Polokwane City on Saturday in the MTN8 quarterfinals), I will be honest.
"He does a few little technical things that made it all happen.
"But the contribution overall is what you got to ask.
"And can he be contributing more than what he does?
"Yes.
"I don’t think he is contributing half of what his potential is.
"I’m being harsh, but he is not my player anymore," says Tinkler.
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The 27-year-old played 70 minutes on Saturday before being replaced by fellow debutant Abdoulaye Mariko.
Pirates will be hoping to get the kind of form that Mbule frequently showed at SuperSport United and occasionally at Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United.
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
