In this edition of the Supporters Forum. KickOff speaks to Buccaneers fanatic Phili Jwara on his long-standing love affair with Orlando Pirates dating back to the 70s.
Name of supporter...
"Phillipe Jwara"
Club Supported...
"Orlando Pirates"
How long supported...
"Jwara-Bucs started supporting Pirates fully in the late seventies. 1977 to be exact. The likes of Jomo Sono were the top players then. I was five-year-old back then. The name Troublemaker [Jomo Sono] is what made me support Pirates. My parents would sometimes travel with me to big matches, by the time we got to the 80s, I knew Indlw'emnyama from A to Z."
Are you happy with the bosses?
"I think to run a business like Orlando Pirates Football Club chairman after chairman, the way the club struggled before, I think there is a huge change under our current chairman [Irvin Khoza]. He has placed Pirates on the world map."
Are you happy with the coach?
"As a supporter, I think I should think many Pirates supporters the meaning of being a supporter. Support means support not be against. Even if a team is about to fall into a cliff you must keep supporting. As fans we sometimes end up doing the very same thing we are against...that's interference. Supporter musts always keep supporting."
Are you happy with the players?
"Every Pirates player should be given support because he is representing my team on the pitch. As a fan you are like a parent, you should support all your children."
Who do you want them to sign...
"Unfortunately, that player is at Manchester City and is Erling Haaland. He is too expensive for Orlando Pirates. Maybe for Mamelodi Sundowns because Patrice Motsepe is a man with all kinds of money."
Message to the team...
"They must continue making us happy. What makes us happy as supporters is a win. They must just make sure they bring Nedbank Cup at home so that we can tour the office to take pictures with both the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup trophies."