Ramokadi: That’s Mbuthuma’s biggest problem…
Rugby
Podcasts & Videos
The Club House
Win
–>
Photo by Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images
Home
Psl
Orlando Pirates
Ramokadi: That’s Mbuthuma’s biggest problem…
Aug 16, 2026 – 10:55 am
By Thato Bosoga
Former Orlando Pirates striker Bruce Ramokadi has advised forward Yanela Mbuthuma on how to solve his goal-scoring woes and ease pressure on himself.
Mbuthuma has found himself in a storm of criticism early in the season, as he is yet to find the back of the net in the three matches he started so far.
Pirates supporters could not hide their frustrations, which were seemingly reaching boiling point, on the former Richards Bay striker after they were held to a 1-1 by AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership clash on Wednesday.
Speaking to KickOff, Ramokadi says he has noticed that the 24-year-old striker tries too hard to impress.
“The thing is, he must not try hard. I see that he is trying very hard and when you do that, you are bound to make mistakes. So he must just be himself, play the football he was playing at Richards Bay,” Ramokadi said.
“Because if you’re a box striker, you need to be in the box, you don’t have to be as skillful as other players. Just do your job, even if he can score with a toe, it’s fine, it’s a goal and that will boost his confidence.
“He must not look to score smart goals, because most of the time players want to score beautiful goals. I mean when you score, a goal is a goal. On the record it says you scored, there’s no space of how you scored it,” the former Pirates striker continued.
“I think that’s his biggest problem, he wants to play like other (creative) players and he is just a goal-scorer. But I can see he’s a hard worker, he defends from the front, which is what made him different from (Tshegofatso) Mabasa.”
The Soweto-born former striker also gave head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou advice on whether he should shield him from the scrutiny by playing off the bench or continue to start with him.
“He must play him, he’s got confidence. The supporters won’t like everything anyway, whether they win or lose, they always complain,” Ramokadi added.