Orlando Pirates legend Tebogo Moloi has shared an exclusive insight with KickOff into his one-on-one conversation with the club's marquee signing, Sipho Mbule.
While there is excitement among Pirates fans about the "MasterChef" signing, some have doubts about his commitment to the game due to his off-field behavior.
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"MasterChef needs to understand that he is not at Pirates because they pity him, he is here because of his unmatched talent. Our chairman, Dr. Irvin Khoza, is a parent and a father figure; he has always provided players with a platform to perform," Moloi shared with KickOff.
"Mbule is not the first player to receive such an opportunity from the chairman. I had my share of mischief as well. Before me, there were other troublesome players like Metroblitz (Mandla Sithole) and Tso (Ernest Makhanya), and more.
"So what Sipho must realize is that he is not the first special case to join Pirates. With Dr. Khoza, he not only has a father figure but also a man who understands the challenges faced by young black boys.
"I asked Sipho Mbule what he would like to be remembered for by the club's spiritual owners. I am genuinely excited about Mbule's signing.
"This is the first time I am revealing this, but I feel I should share it. Before the friendly game against Arsenal, Pirates played a match where I arrived at camp at 2 a.m. with a teammate, whose name I won't mention, and we were not in good condition.
"After that, I had a chance to escape the pressures of South African football. Few people know that I was heading in Sipho Mbule's direction, but thanks to the role the chairman played in my life, I managed to bounce back and help Pirates win the league title in 1994.
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"I told Sipho yesterday, 'Forget what people are saying about you. They know the talent you possess, and your discipline will improve.' I encouraged him to focus on making the spiritual owners proud.
"When I first met him yesterday, he seemed reserved, but after our conversation, he was smiling and laughing. Instead of saying to him, 'Man, stay away from the bottle!', I helped him understand that he was at home at Pirates."
Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
