“Orlando Pirates Wasted Money On Baby Haaland” Former Pirates Midfielder Tso Vilakazi Hit Out

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi has delivered a blunt assessment of Norwegian striker Sebastian “Baby Haaland” Pedersen, questioning whether the Buccaneers made the right decision by investing money in the forward.

Vilakazi, who remains a respected figure among Orlando Pirates supporters because of his contribution to the club during his playing career, believes Pedersen has failed to demonstrate the quality expected of him since arriving at the Soweto giants.

The former midfielder did not mince his words when discussing the striker’s performances, suggesting that Pirates may have wasted their money on a player who has struggled to establish himself as a regular member of the first team.

Speaking about Pedersen’s situation, Vilakazi made it clear that his criticism was based on what he has observed from the club’s performances week after week.

“Pirates wasted money on Pedersen. Bafethu, I am saying this based on what I see week in week out,” Vilakazi said.

His comments have added another layer to the growing discussion surrounding Pedersen’s role and future at Orlando Pirates, particularly considering the competition for attacking positions under head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Vilakazi’s biggest concern appears to be the striker’s inability to secure consistent opportunities in the starting line-up or even guarantee himself a place in the matchday squad.

According to the former Pirates star, Pedersen’s limited involvement raises serious questions about whether he has convinced the technical team that he deserves more playing time.

Vilakazi pointed to the continued selection of other attacking options, including Evidence Makgopa, Tshegofatso Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane, as evidence that Pedersen has struggled to make a strong impression.

“We still see Mbuthuma, Makgopa and Radiopane. Why I am saying Pirates wasted money on (Baby) Haaland is because if he was any quality, I doubt Ouaddou was going to bench him,” he added.

The former midfielder further questioned why Pedersen sometimes fails to make the matchday squad, arguing that a player with the necessary quality should be able to force his way into the coach’s plans.

He also recalled Radiopane’s previous situation at the club, explaining that there were occasions when the young striker was left out of the matchday squad but subsequently returned to feature in the starting team.

For Vilakazi, that comparison highlights what he considers a worrying situation for Pedersen, who has yet to establish the kind of consistency that would make him an important attacking option for the Buccaneers.

However, selection decisions ultimately remain the responsibility of Ouaddou and his technical team, who assess players based on their performances in training, tactical suitability and overall contribution to the squad.

Pedersen’s situation also highlights the difficult challenge facing foreign players who join one of South Africa’s biggest football clubs. Expectations are naturally high, particularly when a striker arrives with a reputation or nickname that creates excitement among supporters.

Being associated with the name ‘Baby Haaland’ inevitably brings additional attention, especially from supporters expecting goals, physical presence and consistent attacking performances.

Nevertheless, Vilakazi’s comments have raised an important question about whether Pedersen can eventually justify the investment made in him.

For now, the Norwegian forward faces the challenge of convincing Ouaddou that he deserves a more prominent role at Orlando Pirates. His response on the pitch could prove decisive in changing the narrative surrounding his time at the club.

With a Pirates legend publicly questioning his value, the pressure is now on Pedersen to prove his critics wrong and show that he has what it takes to succeed at the Buccaneers.

Source: https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/2120811416143675450?a=kgv_tzHNuShrERspZXk&s=19

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