Evidence Makgopa has faced several hurdles in his Orlando Pirates career and it’s made him stronger as a result.
Makgopa is back in the picture for Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana
Bafana meets Uganda in Kampala on Friday 15 November at 15:00. Then they host South Sudan in Cape Town next Tuesday at 18:00. Evidence Makgopa will hope to be heavily involved for Hugo Broos’ side in three two crunch Afcon qualifiers. Makgopa is back among the goals for his club and will be keen to replicate that form for his country.
“I knew it was going to be tough. Every time you have an injury, it’s tough,” Makgopa told journalists.
“Mentally, it can affect you, and you have to be strong at some point. For me, I am glad that when I came back, I had a place to start on the bench because it’s tough as well for my team to be on the bench.
“So I can say I was fortunate enough to manage to come back. Even now, I know if I can play, I can make my way back to Bafana. So it’s good to be back in the team,” the 24-year-old striker concluded.
Baloni wants to prove himself for Pirates
Meanwhile, fringe midfielder Siphelo Baloni has discussed the players he wishes to emulate.
“I just need to collect all the information that I need in football,” Baloni told iDiski Times.
“That’s all I can say to you. I just need to gain experience, get some game-time and then after some years I will be someone else. I don’t like to mention other people’s names because I can also be Thembinkosi Lorch in the next two years, or not, or Teboho Mokoena.
“But I like to say that I can be someone else. All the Thembinkosi Lorch, Mshishi [Themba Zwane], I am talking about the best players, Teboho Mokoena, [Bathusi] Aubaas is also there, [Kamohelo] Mokotjo.
“I’m talking about people who are playing in the middle. Those players have experienced some challenges in their journey. Now is our time to face those challenges and we still have time to enjoy football,” he added.
Will Bafana qualify for Afcon 2025?
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