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Mobara has to fight to get his place back at Pirates: Palacios

Orlando Pirates coach Augusto Palacios has said that headline signing Abbubaker Mobara needs to fight to regain a starting place at his new club.

Mobara’s absence from Pirates’ starting XI has been glaring since the departure of Muhsin Ertugral as head coach.

Bucs’ new right-back signing arrived as one of the biggest acquisitions made during the Premier Soccer League’s off-season.

His signing from Ajax Cape Town was announced while he was on duty for the shadow South Africa under-23 team that won the Cosafa Cup in Windhoek as part of their preparation for the Rio Olympics.

At the Olympics in August‚ Mobara marked Barcelona star Neymar out of the game in SA’s 0-0 draw against the hosts and eventual winners Brazil in Sao Paulo.

He was virtually ever-present under Ertugral at the start of the season.

But Ertugral had started to rest a tired-looking Mobara from when he was replaced in the 60th minute of Bucs’ 1-1 away draw against Polokwane City on October 16‚ three matches before Pirates’ 6-1 loss against SuperSport United that led to the coach’s departure.

Caretaker-coach Augusto Palacios is yet to field Mobara in his five matches in charge‚ preferring young signing from Lamontville Golden Arrows Thembela Sikhakhane at right-back.

“Coaches are different. Remember we have 28 or 29 players. I cannot field all the players‚” Palacios explained last week of Mobara’s continued absence.

“I have a philosophy which is very clear. If a player in the team is performing‚ I will not remove him.

“But it depends on the opponents‚ the system on the field and on the scoreline in a game.

“Mobara‚ Riyaad Norodien – everybody is welcome in the team. But you need to create the competition. You can’t decide that this is my position because I am in Bafana Bafana‚ or the U-23s‚ or I play for my country’s national team.

“No – here it’s about competition. No matter who‚ no matter the name‚ no matter where you come from.

“And this is what I play. I will never change this philosophy because when I was a player I grew and learnt in the same way.

“Mobara‚ Ntsikelelo Nyauza‚ Thabo Qalinge – everyone will have their time. But if the team is going well‚ and working well‚ I will see which pieces to move‚ depending on the opposition‚ the game and the results. And also on the performances of the individual.”

Winger Norodien‚ signed with Mobara from Ajax‚ has made two substitutes’ appearances under Palacios having also been a favourite of Ertugral’s. – TMG Sport
 

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