Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said Thapelo Mokobodi is one of the best midfielders in South Africa. The 23-year-old played a match-winning role in his first Soweto Derby.
Mokobodi gave two assists in the 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs. He was also named Man of the Match, Goal reported.
“He can assist, he can recover the ball and what is important, he is professional, he has a strong value system as a human being,” Ouaddou told the media.
The coach said the player also shows respect to the people around him. “He’s very respectful of his teammates, of the club,” Ouaddou said.
“I predict a great future for this boy. And he’s definitely one of the best midfielders in the country,” he said.
Ouaddou said he first saw Mokobodi at Marumo Gallants. He said he arrived at the club in January or February, when he believed it was at the bottom of the league.
The squad was very large at the time, and Mokobodi was not training with the main group. “They had like 40 players, some of them were working on the side, normal training and he was on the other side with another team,” Ouaddou said.
The coach then set up a match to take a closer look at those players. “I organised a friendly game for this people who were sitting on the side, and I saw quality,” he said.
“I was so surprised why this boy was on that side,” Ouaddou said. He said Mokobodi and another player, Ncube, went on to help the team. “These two guys helped me to secure our position in the PSL,” he said.
Mokobodi later moved to Pirates. Goal reported that he has scored two goals and made four assists in 14 appearances for the club.
Ouaddou said he was pleased when the club signed the midfielder. “I was just so happy that the club brought him here to Pirates, and I knew what he could bring,” he said.
The coach also described how Mokobodi plays. “When I talk about his quality, he is box-to-box, he’s somebody able to run distances, he is clever, he can see before receiving the ball,” he said.
Pirates are second in the league standings and are trying to defend their title, according to Goal.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Goal.com. Image: Goal.com. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.