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Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates legend Jomo Sono has given the Buccaneers his blessing for the club to hand over his retired jersey No 10 to any player who deserves to don the jersey.
The shirt was made famous by the 60-year-old tactician back in his playing days for the Sowetan giants.
The Buccaneers faithful have been urging the Soweto giants’ management team to hand over the number to current skipper Oupa Manyisa or star winger Thabo Rakhale but Sono remained mum on the matter.
Until now.
The famous jersey was however utilised at the club during the CAF Champions League back in 2006 by former skipper Benedict Vilakazi and is currently used by Manyisa in the CAF Confederation Cup.
“I really don’t have a problem with anyone wearing it at Pirates," insisted Sono.
“To be honest with you, they (Pirates) can give it to anybody they want. The jersey doesn’t play football, it is the player who plays.
“Back then, it was not the No 10 jersey on Jomo that played, but it was Jomo playing for Pirates wearing jersey No 10.
“So it’s just that it got stuck with me and everyone believed that I’m the only one who deserves to wear it.
While the Jomo Cosmos boss admitted that Pirates have the right to award his number to any player of their choice, but also stressed out that there is no player who deserves to wear it at the moment, judging by the players’ performance on the pitch compared to the way he used to play.
“When I was playing for Pirates I was just passionate, I just wanted to play football for the team. What number jersey I was wearing didn’t bother me at all.
“But if you ask people who saw me playing for Pirates during my time and you take the jersey and try give it to any of the current players, trust me you will not give it to anyone now.
“And that’s the answer from me case closed, but it’s up to Pirates to decide who they want to give it to. But for me I haven’t seen anybody who deserves to wear it yet.”
