Baroka's Makume ready for Pirates challenge in Cup showdown
BONGINKOSI Makume is not fazed by the prospects of having to shut out Orlando Pirates marauding attack that includes the excitingly talented Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa – his former teammate.
Once linked with a move to the Buccaneers, the defender who turns out for Motsepe Foundation outfit Baroka FC is treating the Nedbank Round of 16 clash like he does any other match. Such are the benefits of experience.
At 29, Makuma is one of Baroka’s senior players and he would love nothing better than to send the defending champions tumbling out of the competition at this early stage.
“It would be very nice to knock them out. We have plenty of youngsters here looking for the spotlight and the opportunity to be seen. I just hope they come to the party on the day and eventually knock Pirates out.
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“Of course, it will take a lot out of us to do that. It will take everything to win but you know no one leaves their home and says, ‘I want to lose this game’. We are going to be 100% focused and we will give 110% our best to win.”
As a defender he could well have the task of not only stopping the likes of Mofokeng from creating havoc but could be asked to bottle up former Baroka teammate Evidence Makgopa. It is a task he relishes although he does not believe he will have an advantage from having previously played with the lanky striker.
“I think he has grown as a footballer and his growth has happened immensely. His AFCON experience will come in handy for him and I know I am going to face a different Makgopa because he’s now different from when he was here.”
Such ties are huge opportunities for lower division side players to advertise themselves as Baroka did over a decade ago by beating both Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows en route to reaching the semifinals. Do they then prepare differently as they approach the match?
Makume says there is no need for Bakgaga to be taken up by the hype of the big clash and start doing things in a new way.
“I think there’s not much difference in terms of preparing for any other game. Yes, I know the magnitude of this game is very big and the hype behind it, but we continue to prepare for it like we do with any other team.”
He is not perturbed by the prospect of facing a Pirates team that – despite the humiliation by Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend – has been flying high domestically and on the continent as he believes Baroka are a balanced team that should be able to hold their own against the Buccaneers.
“I think we have a few youngsters but we also have a few senior players who are going to help us in this game so there will not be much of a difference (between the two teams).
Makume says he’d heard the talks about his being on Pirates’ wanted list but nothing concrete ever reached him and he is just focused on doing his best for his current club.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t lie in terms of saying what happened because I also don’t know if the rumours were true because nothing ever materialized on that. Playing against them is always a normal game like any other. You play football because you are a footballer and you look forward to playing such huge games.”