With Evidence Makgopa proving doubters wrong with his performances for Bafana Bafana, a message has been sent to the supporters about respecting coaches and their decisions.
Makgopa scored the first goal and with the other coming via the boot of Teboho Mokoena as Bafana defeated Morocco 2-0 at Laurent Pokou Stadium in Ivory Coast on Tuesday night, to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who has had some sections of the South African supporters criticising his selection of Makgopa, was delighted that the 23-year-old netted his first goal of the tournament.
With Bafana set to face Cape Verde in the quarter-final fixture on Saturday, former Orlando Pirates striker James Mothibi has asked the supporters and club owners to refrain from interfering with coaches.
"In one of the interviews I did yesterday, I predicted that Evidence Makgopa would score against Morocco, and he did exactly that. The interview was on radio and I am happy for the boy because he has been working hard. We as South Africans need to practice patience at times. We need to respect and understand those who are in charge in their roles. Our football will go down if coaches are being told who to play and who not to play," said Mothibi.
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"What is more disappointing is when club owners also do it. I'm talking about interfering with coaches on team selections and things like that. It is high time that coaches should be respected. We work hard to acquire coaching badges and to expand our football knowledge and only to be told what to do by others. We sacrifice a lot to contribute to the development of football and only to be made to listen to nonsense," he added.
"Imagine acquiring a CAF B or A license and only to be made to listen to nonsense from someone who doesn't even understand the fundamentals of football. People who don't understand the fundamentals of football have been suggesting to coaches about who they should play and who they should not play and that is not on. We need to stop this as South Africans. It starts in the PSL (top division) and down to the NFD (Motsepe Foundation Championship), ABC Motsepe League and to the SAB League," concluded Mothibi.
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