Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi says he is happy to see midfielder Sipho Mbule move abroad.
Mbule, 28, joined Iraqi top division side Zakho SC after parting ways with Pirates last month. The “Master Chef” had signed a year deal with the Buccaneers but the club did not activate the extension clause when his contract ended in June making him a free agent.
Mbule, who has been haunted by allegations of off-field disciplinary issues, featured 21 times for Pirates across all competitions last season and scored just one goal coming in the Nedbank Cup.
Lekgwathi believes Mbule might have been in a comfort zone here at home and a different environment away, can help him revive himself and also prolong his career in a time where footballers are retiring early.
“Sometimes the environment you are in contributes because you can get stuck in a comfort zone,” Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.
“I think he was in a comfort zone and for me I think this is a great opportunity for him to go to countries like Iraq where he can be able to revive himself and maybe even what people are saying about him and discipline. Maybe he’s going to change because of the environment.
“That environment will be different from home where you find one having too many friends. So going that side he must start a new life, new friends, and the friends could be Muslim as well, different from the friends he’s used to being around that maybe have an influence on his discipline.
“I’m happy he is going to a different country and let’s pray or wish that he’s going to focus especially with his age. He needs to focus because if you have noticed nowadays in football people retire at a young age. He’s 28/29 and there are a few years left for him to play.
“There’s a lucky few like [Christiano] Ronaldo and Lucky Lekgwathi that retire at the age of 39, 40. It’s not easy these days to find players retiring at 40. He must just try to focus, revive himself and do well and maybe he can come back to Bafana Bafana. He’s a good player, he’s so talented, he’s gifted, a special player.
“But unfortunately, people always complain about his discipline, let’s hope he’ll go there and change in a new environment.”
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.