Former Orlando Pirates player, James Mothibi, has praised Melusi
Buthelezi for his perfect start in the club’s colours. Buthelezi made his
debut as a substitute for the injured Sipho Chaine in the Carling Knockout
clash against Cape Town Spurs last Friday and was then handed his first
start on Tuesday against AmaZulu in the league.
The 25-year-old managed to keep a clean sheet like he did in the previous
match in cup, as Bucs came back with a point from Durban after the 0-0
draw.
Mothibi has praised Buthelezi for his performances and is expecting more
from him in the coming games. He said, “I think there have been so many
injuries at Orlando Pirates but that’s also a positive for those who have
not been getting a chance to play to finally get game time. You just
mentioned the goalkeeper and the first time I saw him play against Cape
Town Spurs, I liked how his body is structured. I liked how confident he
was in playing from the back. Even some of the supporters were nervous in
seeing the team playing from the back, I noticed. But I understood because
it’s very difficult when you are not there to see the boys training. You
don’t know how the coach wants the boys to play and it’s very difficult
for the supporters to understand. In modern football, players need to
start playing from the back.”
Mothibi also believes that Buthelezi has the potential to become the
team’s number one goalkeeper. He added, “He (Buthelezi) is a very good
modern goalkeeper and he is just like Chaine. In him and Chaine, Pirates
have two very good goalkeepers and I think with time he can be the team’s
number one. I have not seen much of him when it comes to facing a lot of
aerial balls and when he is under pressure, and that’s where I would like
to see him. But from afar, as a coach, role model and an ex-player of
Orlando Pirates, I see someone who has got belief in himself and has got
confidence in terms of playing from the back. Good luck to him and he must
continue to play the way he plays and whoever identified the boy saw a top
talent.”
Melusi Buthelezi has made a perfect start to his Orlando Pirates career,
and his performances have been lauded by former Pirates player, James
Mothibi. Mothibi believes that Buthelezi has the potential to become the
team’s number one goalkeeper and is expecting more from him in the coming
games.
