Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will be hard-pressed to rethink how best to utilise Kaizer Chiefs arch-nemesis Evidence Makgopa in this weekend’s much-anticipated Soweto derby.
In a virtual identical situation to the last derby two months ago when Magkopa was struggling with a knee injury, the Bafana Bafana forward finds himself outside of Ouaddou’s regular starting line-up.
Despite the season fast approaching the business end with Pirates involved in a two-way race for the Betway Premiership title with Mamelodi Sundowns, Ouaddou is still opting for Yanela Mbuthuma ahead of Makgopa.
“It was a decision from the technical staff,” Ouaddou said after the last match against AmaZulu.
“It’s important for our strikers to be competitive in terms of the game-time.
“We thought for Evidence, he needs full 90 minutes in terms of competitiveness. We brought Radio, I think it gives him confidence.
“It means a lot for him also to see that the technical team is looking at him.”
However, Ouaddou may have a change of thought this week, taking into account Makgopa’s brilliant record against the Amakhosi.
The 25-year-old former Baroka FC striker has been prolific for the Buccaneers in the Soweto derby, having netted in the last three encounters between the two great rivals. A goal on Sunday would bring Makgopa level with Fani Madida and the late Alfred “Russia” Jacobs, who both scored in four successive derbies
Ouaddou, however, also kept Magkopa on the bench in the first-round encounter at FNB Stadium before the Moroccan tactician unleashed him in the 69th minute.
It took only seven minutes for Magkopa to leave his mark by drilling home Pirates’ third goal as the Buccaneers romped home 3-0.
Chiefs will certainly be working hard at Naturena this week in order to formulate a plan to stop their arch nemesis – whether Ouaddou starts Magkopa or brings him fresh off the bench on Sunday.