There’s been an understandable outpouring of disbelief of Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane’s departure from Orlando Pirates this winter.
The two fullbacks have had their fair share of fortunes at Pirates when Mako operated on the left and Monyane on the right.
Mako arrived at Pirates seven years ago, and won numerous trophies in the process, including four MTN8 trophies and two Nedbank Cups.
Monyane also achieved the same feat – and even more – as he joined Pirates when he was only 12 years old, spending 13 years at the club.
The duo was so good at some point that many tipped them to continue operating down the flanks for Bafana Bafana in the same games.
However, it’s been the latter – Monyane – that has been favoured by the incumbent Hugo Broos for Bafana in recent years, though he didn’t get a chance to cement his spot.
The duo, though, have a lot in common. So much so that on the flipside of their defensive abilities, they are both injury prone as well.
They’ve spent a lot of time in the dressing room, leading them to missing out on some crucial matches for Pirates in the past.
And so now with both of them reported to have crossed the road and joined arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs on free transfer deals this winter, it’s hard to fathom how Amakhosi have overlooked their injury woes.
Chiefs endured a lot of struggles last season, including missing out on a Top-Eight spot, so much that they can’t afford to sign players who could spend some time in the medical room.
So quite frankly, both players are not suitable for what should be their aspirations for next season – building the team that will compete for the title.
Chiefs didn’t miss out on the Top-Eight after blowing hot and cold, but the players that they signed were just not fit for their model as well, especially in defence.
Bongani Sam, another Pirates reject, didn’t play a single game for Chiefs last season – the left-back sustained a lengthy injury and fell down in the pecking order when he eventually recovered.
Edmilson Dove got injured during the pre-season tour of Turkey, requiring him to miss out on the better part of the season.
However, it wasn’t only injury concerns that stunned Chiefs’ defence as players who were signed struggled to live up to expectations.
Bradley Cross, another left-back, finished the season better than how he started as coach Nasreddine Nabi even argued at some point that they need a left-back specialist.
Boy, such has been Chiefs’ defensive woes that Njabulo Blom has already been sent back to his parent club after an underwhelming loan stint at the club.
And that’s not all. Goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari failed to cement the No 1 spot. As such he has fallen down the pecking order, with Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Petersen ahead of him.
And so, regardless of how well Mako and Monyane have done for Pirates, they seem to be adding to a crisis that Chiefs want to get rid of.
Add to the fact that while they’ve had their good fair share of fortunes at Pirates, they didn’t form part of coach Jose Riveiro’s integral plans last season owing to form and injuries.
Chiefs should have gone for some exciting, fully-fit players, including Thabang Matuludi of Polokwane City at right back and Stellenbosch’s left-back Fawaaz Basadien.
Basadien, notably, has been on Broos set-to for Bafana so much so that he led the team during recent friendly against Tanzania.
But, again, the decision rested with Chiefs and Nabi. If they saw that Mako and Monyane would strengthen their squad, that was on them. But those would be questionable signings.
