Retired South African striker Nathan Paulse believes that a player like Erling Haaland wouldn’t be appreciated by the local fans if he played in South Africa, as it shows in the criticism of Evidence Makgopa.
Paulse is moulded the same way as the Orlando Pirates forward and knows all too well about how goals matter more than glamour, having spent most of his career proving this.
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And at 25 Makgopa has also proved his worth at club and national level where he has received most criticism despite his six goals and two assists for Bafana Bafana.
Paulse chatted with iDiski Times journalist Lethabo Kganyago in edition 235 of the newspaper where he noted that Makgopa has the making of a modern global striker with his height, finishing instincts and strong mentality.
Paulse added that Makgopa is similar in build to the Manchester City goal machine Haaland, emphasising even if the Norway international would play in South Africa, he would also be overlooked.
“I don’t know him [Makgopa] personally, but just observing him, it is very hard, especially at that level, to have come in and make an impact when you are not the favoured choice in the position,” Paulse told iDiski Times.
“You don’t please the social media role, I call it that, the social media role of the exciting player, the skilful player. To still go out and do the job, massive credit to his mentality, and I would love to work with a player like that.
“If I’m very honest, we lack players like that in South Africa, and that’s not the players’ fault. I think it comes largely from how football has been set up and what the other narratives of that arrive to as a coach, you know, fans.
“I’d go as far as saying that even if [Erling] Haaland came to play in South Africa or if he came from South Africa, he would still not be a favoured player in perspective. All credit to Makgopa’s mentality. It shows why we as outsiders don’t get to work with the player one-on-one or see what he does behind the scenes.
“So the national team coach has a very clear or understanding of what he wants from him and he does the job. And look, football at that level is about doing the job, and that’s something we have to learn, still, I think in South Africa.
“We can look good, have these skilful players, but ultimately the intention of the game is to score goals and to stop goals.”
You can read Paulse’s full interview with Kganyago in edition 235 when you subscribe to IDiski Times media WhatsApp number for FREE.
