Makola done with showboating

Johannesburg - Orlando Pirate’s midfielder Mpho ‘Bibo’ Makola has told Sport24 that he has matured into a player who tries to keep his play as simple as possible.

A number of Bucs players have hit the headlines with displays of individual trickery in the past few months.

While Makola is a fan of the spectacle he says that he has simplified his game as he has matured in order to provide a slightly alternative option on the wing, which he believes can benefit the team.

“I think there isn’t really much of a difference between us but I think I just try to play simple,” he told Sport24 when asked to compare himself to the other wide players at Pirates.  

“Not that I can’t do what they are doing but I feel that I have been in the PSL longer than they have.

“I want to create goal scoring chances for my team-mates and I try to score as well as a midfielder.”

Makola stands out for his composure in the final third and this is reflected in the way he talks about his game.

“As a wide player you need to put in quality crosses and create chances for your strikers which is what I try to do all the time,” he says.

“In modern football that is what makes the team play, if you look at the Iniestas they don’t need the showboating.

“I’m not about that anymore because I think I did that while playing for Free State Stars and I have learnt a lot."

Makola has just signed a new three-year deal at Orlando Pirates which will surely comfort Bucs fans going into the 2015/16 season. 

Pirates open their PSL account with a trip to SuperSport United on August 11.