iDiski TV analyst Benedict Vilakazi has hailed Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha’s display despite his side’s defeat in the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns in Durban.
Sundowns scored two unanswered goals to dethrone the Buccaneers as Wafa Wafa champions in the sold-out event.
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The match was only Mbatha’s third appearance for Pirates this season having missed the early start of the campaign sidelined with injury.
‘Tso’ felt Mbatha performed good along with his midfield partners on the day Simphiwe Selepe and Thapelo Mokobodi adding that what was missing for the Ghost, was a link between the defence and Yanela Mbuthuma up front.
“Thalente played very well,” said Tso on iDiski TV.
“Pirates needed Mbatha in that midfield and he did very well. The only thing that we missed today was to have somebody to link from the defensive position to the attacking with Mbuthuma.”
“What Sundowns did was that Tebza [Teboho Mokoena] was sitting in front of the defence forcing Pirates to use the width and then Mbatha he was trying also to make those runs using the width. But it was not enough because once Mbatha is out of the central position…
“The boys, they were not bad, they played. Selepe played very well, Mokobodi, they played very well. The difference between the two was that the other one has got more experience compared to the other one.
“That’s the only difference, but I was happy with Mbatha’s performance today. I think he did very well.”