Just when you thought Vincent Pule's injury woes, that have blighted him for the last two years were over, the tricky winger suffered yet another setback, one that would see him miss a total of 22 matches in all competitions for coach Jose Riveiro's side. The 32-year-old has welcomed the changes that are taking place at the Buccaneers both on and off the field. He now plays a leadership role to the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng, the latest Orlando Pirates star that has fans in a craze. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver, Pule talks about yet another lengthy injury, his eagerness to return to his best form and why he is providing wise counsel to his teammate who suffered a similar tragedy to him.
Delmain Faver: "Mashonisa", always nice having you on Soccer Laduma's pages. One can imagine for any player to miss a total of 22 games and counting must be an awful feeling. Can you share your thoughts about being back on the pitch and working your way back to full fitness after a lengthy period on the sidelines?
Vincent Pule: Ja, I'm feeling good, man. You know, obviously being back from a lot of injuries, it takes a lot mentally, but now I'm back on the field and I'm happy to be with the guys, you know, to enjoy football again.
DF: In terms of percentage, where would you say you are? As we know on your day, you are a fantastic player who can decide the game, and we last saw you appear in the second half of the thrashing of Crystal Lake in the Nedbank Cup.
VP: Yeah, you know, it's all about getting the right minutes and I think playing a lot of friendlies, and I think I'm not too far…
DF: What have you made of your new role where you predominantly emerge off the bench in the second half of matches, which is very different to the starting role you first held when you started out your career at Orlando Pirates?
VP: For me, at the moment it's all about encouraging the youngsters that are playing now, you know. Giving what I know. And they are good human beings, they listen, you know, and they make time. If they don't understand something, they ask questions. I think at the moment I'm happy to contribute to the young ones. Just to give them confidence, you know, inside the field, just being brave and I think at the moment I'm happy with that.
DF: One of the young players that has really stood out this season is Relebohile Mofokeng, who is on the national team radar. What have you made of his progress in the first team this season?
VP: I think the boy is something special for his age. Being comfortable on the ball, you know, having the confidence to take people on… I think for his age he's matured, you know, and I just wish him all the best. I so wish he can play more, you know, and get a chance to go overseas as well.
DF: The rise and fall of young footballers long before they reach their full potential, thanks to the premature love and adoration they receive from the masses, is well-documented. How do you then ensure that you keep a player like Mofokeng humble and focused strictly on football?
VP: Like I said, Rele is a good human being. Before being a footballer, you have to be a good person. You have to listen to your senior players, you have to understand what's happening in the environment. I think he's been a good boy till thus far and I wish he can stay like this.
DF: For every big star that emerges, there is the departure of another. Rele's rise coincided with the exit of Thembinkosi Lorch, who was not only a senior figure in the Buccaneers dressing room – but he was your onfield partner with whom you formed a devastating partnership. How crucial was his loss to the team?
VP: You know these things happen. It's football, players come, players go. I think we lost a senior player, we lost a friend, we lost a brother. But you know it's football. Football continues. I think as a team we accepted that he's gone, he left and now we focus on finishing the league in the right position.
DF: Pirates impressively managed to win three of the last Soweto Derbies in all competitions, with the latest being the thrilling 3-2 win earlier this month. Judging by the turnout, the fans still hold the fixture dear to their hearts. Does it still hold the same gravity for you as players or has it become just a normal fixture?
VP: Yeah, you know it's just a normal fixture like any other team. It's all about three points. We are fighting for the three points and I think the most important thing is don't play the occasion, play the match like any other match because if you play the occasion you'll get carried away. And I think for us as a team now, the spirit has been good. We are focused and we showed that we can get the win.
DF: On perhaps a sadder note, your teammate Melusi Buthelezi recently underwent a similar tragic ordeal as you where he survived a hijacking, like you did last year. How has the support been for him from the club and does it help having been in that situation before so you can offer sufficient support to him?
VP: Fortunately for us, we have a team that supports us. Whenever bad things happen to you, they are there to help you. As players as well, we encourage each other. We are there for help when someone needs help, we are there to support because it's not only inside the field, it's off the field as well. Just to support one another and seeing every player perform (at) his level best. I think for us as a team it's gonna help.
DF: Top player, thank you so much for your time and all the best for the rest of the season.
VP: Thank you, my brother.
"Vincent Pule is a good player, we all know what he can do. But he's been unfortunate with injuries in the last season or two if I'm not mistaken. But that doesn't take away the quality in the man. We know what Vincent Pule can do. When he's on song, we know what he is capable of. It's just one of those unfortunate situations because he was dealing with injuries, he also had to deal with that hijacking that happened, I think last year, if I'm not mistaken. So, it's not easy to overcome such things. You know, as a footballer, the only thing that you should worry about is being in that 18-man squad and also staying injury-free. When you're injured for almost half of the season, that works against you. I mean, mentally, it works against you, but you know, Vincent is a quality player and with the current system that Orlando Pirates are playing, I think he can also fit there. Everything depends on how coach Riveiro will decide to play him because if you remember, even (Patrick) Maswanganyi was a winger when he joined, but the coach found a place for him. He is now playing as a number 10, even Relebohile Mofokeng, who was playing as a winger, is now playing as a number 10. Deon Hotto, we know he is a winger, but he now plays mostly as a left-back. So, coach Riveiro knows how to use Vincent and I think he's got plans for him. The boy just needs to be patient. I mean, you don't just become a bad player overnight. He can also slot in very well just behind the striker or playing as a 10 because I don't think he still has the pace. I've watched him a couple of times this season and I've seen glimpses of the old Vincent. As fans we know sometimes we are impatient. And sometimes when you are out for so long, we forget about you and get excited about the new players. Now, when you're coming back, we have our favourites. We have Maswanganyi and Mofokeng as our favourites. Now we have forgotten what Vincent Pule can offer the club and he's one of the senior players at the club and you can't just let go of such a quality player. You know, even Sundowns wanted him recently and I don't think Sundowns will want a player that they see ukuthi (that) there's no quality. I think they know what Vincent Pule is capable of. (Thembinkosi) Lorch wasn't playing much at Pirates, but Sundowns came in, knocked at the door. They demanded Lorch and they got him because they know his quality. I think it's all up to Riveiro. For me personally, Vincent is a quality player and he deserves to be in the team." VINCENT PULE FACT FILE Full name: Maliele Vincent Pule Date of birth: 10 March 1992 Place of birth: Bloemfontein, Free State Nickname: Mashonisa Position: Midfielder Jersey number: 45 Club: Orlando Pirates Previous clubs: African Warriors, Bidvest Wits Honours: 2016/17 MTN8 Winner, 2016/17 League winner, 2017/18 Telkom Knockout winner (all with Wits), 2018/19 Telkom Knockout runner-up, 2020/21 MTN8 winner, 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup runner-up, 2022/23 Nedbank Cup winner, 2022/23 MTN8 winner (all with Pirates), 3 Bafana Bafana caps
We have forgotten what Vincent Pule can offer
Shane Matsoyane - Orlando Pirates supporter
