Makaab Discusses Mbule's Future at Pirates

Mike Makaab, the well-known agent of Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule, discussed the player’s future as his contract is set to expire in June. Mbule joined the Buccaneers at the beginning of the season, making a surprising move from Mamelodi Sundowns after a six-month loan spell at Sekhukhune United. The 28-year-old made 23 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal. He started the season on a high note, even earning a recall to Bafana Bafana, where he was part of Hugo Broos' AFCON squad. However, his prominence at Pirates seemed to diminish during the second half of the season, with Mbule missing several matches without any explanations provided by the club or his coach.

While Mbule did not enjoy as much regular game time as he would have liked, Makaab noted that he respects the Pirates technical team’s selection decisions, emphasizing the club’s significant success this season as a testament to the technical bench’s capability. “With Mbule, one needs to understand that coaches view players in a particular manner,” he stated during an exclusive interview with iDiski Times. “You have to look at what Orlando Pirates has accomplished this season, winning the league and two cups. They perform a specific type of football. It’s up to the coach to decide whether a player fits into that style or not, and a lot of negative comments have circulated regarding Mbule in recent months.

“To put it simply, one has to respect the technical staff’s decisions. They have achieved incredibly well at Pirates, and they have the right to determine who they believe should play to attain their objectives. That’s something we need to respect.”

When asked if he is confident that Mbule will be at Pirates next season, Makaab stated that the club holds an option to extend his contract. “I can’t comment on that, as the club has an option until the end of May,” he explained. “And again, I have to respect that. Whatever decision is made, I must respect it.”