The absence of Patrick Maswanganyi in the Orlando Pirates team could have exposed his flaw, that limits Thalenthe Mbatha, who scored a brace from shots outside the box, back to his best against Marumo Gallants.
Maswanganyi, of course, was suspended in the 8-1 trouncing of Gallants, but he was likely going to miss the game anyway, after he was declared unavailable for the preceding two matches against Al Ahly and Stade d'Abidjan.
When the gangly midfielder is on the park for the Buccaneers, it is no secret that he is not a player to track back in the number ten role.
So much so that Mbatha is often forced to run from box to box, to compensate and close the space for the luxury of having 'Tito' in the team.
READ: Riveiro Responds To Bafana Coaching Role
Former Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs also observed that Mbatha plays best when he is alongside Kabelo Dlamini in midfield, who offers him enough security not to go up and down and that he plays best when he just sits as a six and gets enough space to take those dangerous shots at goal.
"Mbatha, oh my goodness! But you know why? Because we had a guy like Dlamini in front of him, who just made things happen. He looked like he was Father Christmas just sliding those passes and he made Mbatha look like a magician," Josephs said after Pirates' trouncing win over Siwelele Sa Marumo on SoccerBeat YouTube Channel.
READ: Duck Broken: Mabasa Heaps Praise On Radiopane
"Because you know what? Mbatha knew his role, he would just break down (the attack) and give the ball to Dlamini, (and say) 'Dlamini you just hand out the gifts for us', Christmas presents and those finishes were unbelievable!
"The one he took to the top corner, without any backlift, just boom! This is Mbatha we came to know, outside the box he's dangerous, for the games he played in the national team as well. Once Mbatha has a role of a proper six, then he shines! But if you need him to do the going forward and backwards, that's not him man. His strength is breaking things down, give it to the (next) guy and join the attack and stay outside the box, that's his strength," Josephs added.
The Ghost will be back in the Betway Premiership action on Sunday afternoon when they visit Magesi at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
