While an admirer of the midfielder, Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has issued a warning to new signing Sipho Mbule.
The 27-year-old was the first signing to be unveiled by the Buccaneers for the 25'26 season. The Soweto giants beat rivals Kaizer Chiefs to the signing of the former Mamelodi Sundowns man.
Mbule made 12 appearances while on loan at Sekhukhune United last term.
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His parent club, Sundowns, had loaned the troubled star to Babina Noko in a bid to regain match fitness through game time.
His contract with the Tshwane giants, which expired at the end of June, was not renewed, freeing Mbule up to join his next club on a free transfer.
For all his talent, Mbule's off-field troubles have haunted him from club to club, and his new coach has sent a message of caution to the midfielder.
"It’s funny because when I spoke about Mbule, I had not even been approached by Pirates," Ouaddou told Pirates TV.
"Robert (Marawa) asked me about players I liked, and I spoke about him (Mbule) because. I like these types of players, who are not afraid to have the ball, and they want to go forward; they are good with the ball.
"Some players need to be managed in a proper way. Of course, he has talent, but maybe he didn’t manage his career or choices well, I'm not sure," Ouaddou said.
"Maybe he was too good, and started thinking that he had reached the [top] level, but sometimes the law of football is very tough. When you don’t respect the game, yourself, and the job, it can be tough because it can call you back to show you it’s not time for you to slow down."
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"I want to say to my players to take care of their bodies and their lifestyles and to know that things can go quickly in the right way, but quickly you can go in the wrong way as well if you don’t respect football. If you respect football, football will respect you. If you don’t respect it, you can quickly be finished.:
Ouaddou continued: To come back to Mbule, it’s up to him. It’s not up to me...He has to take this moment as a very, very strong message and luck to come back to a good club. We will be with him, and we will support him.
"He’s no longer a small guy. He has to manage his career and life."
Mbule is part of the Orlando Pirates squad that departed for Spain on Monday evening. Pirates will play four friendly matches during their pre-season tour.
Their first test comes in the form of Championship side Bolton Wanderers on Friday.
Photo: Orlando Pirates Media
