Mofokeng brace lifts Pirates back to the top as Ouaddou backs central role

ORLANDO Pirates returned to the top of the Betway Premiership table after a 2-0 win over AmaZulu FC, with Relebohile Mofokeng central to the result and increasingly central to the team’s tactical shape.

The victory came in a top-of-the-table clash at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, where Mofokeng scored both goals to settle the contest and underline his growing influence under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

The Bafana Bafana international opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a header before sealing the win late in the match with a strike that took a deflection. It followed another recent goal from Mofokeng in Pirates’ 2-0 home win over Magesi, continuing a productive spell in front of goal.

A new role taking shape

Ouaddou has expanded on Mofokeng’s positioning, explaining why the attacker has been deployed through the middle rather than on the wing.

“Look, I really get a lot of things that his coach should play him on the side, he is better there. But he has many positions this player because he is talented, he can play on the side, in the middle but for us, it’s to notify us the technician and coach where he is able to bring the biggest of qualities.

“And since we make him play in the middle, he makes assist, he scores so I think it’s a good position and I think we have to keep him there,” said Ouaddou.

The coach elaborated further during his post-match media conference when asked about Mofokeng’s long-term future as a central playmaker.

“When you are a coach of a professional team the first thing that’s necessary to do is to do is analyse the profile and the quality and the competencies of your players, and to analyse the game model to see if these qualities can match with your game model,” Ouaddou said.

“And I have seen quickly he’s somebody that can play that position because of his awareness, because of his capacity to scan, because of his technical quality to turn quickly when he receives the ball.

“The future of football is the scanning and when you are able to take a decision before receiving the ball, this is the future. It is the modern football and we are lucky to have this kind of player in our team.”

Fine margins, decisive moments

While Mofokeng supplied the goals, goalkeeper Sipho Chaine played a key role in securing maximum points, producing a one-handed save late on to deny Langelihle Mhlongo.

“I think people think that he didn’t have much to do, but the action he had to make he did it. The save he made at the end, it’s what we asking from a goalkeeper,” Ouaddou said on SuperSport TV.

“He kept us not to concede and maybe allowed us to score a second goal because maybe if they had scored, maybe it wouldn’t have been the second game. I have to give credit Sipho Chaine and the players as well, now we are going to quickly to wrap and to focus on Nedbank Cup.”

The win moved Pirates back to the summit and reinforced the impact of Mofokeng’s central role as the season and cup commitments continue to unfold.