DIRECT EVIDENCE

EVIDENCE MAKGOPA HAS HAD A TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR THE ORLANDO PIRATES STRIKER?

- Mazola Molefe

In 2021, with the number of offers and enquiries for his services, striker Evidence Makgopa could I have moved overseas But Baroka chair Khurishi Mphahlele thought best to sell the then junior international, who had recently caught the eye of newly appointed Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, to Orlando Pirates instead.

To say that his representatives and the European teams hoping to sign a player of Makgopa's potential were disappointed would be a serious understatement.

Life had to go on in Soweto, however, and not long after the forward arrived at the Buccaneers he would soon find himself forgotten.

Makgopa went from missing just two top-flight league matches at Baroka in his final season there to making a mere five appearances for Pirates in his debut year under coach José Riveiro during the 2022/23 campaign.

It seemed his career was taking an unthinkable nosedive, with Broos now forced to look elsewhere for goals when his original intention was probably to make Makgopa the next Benni McCarthy for the national team.