Ex-striker questions Pirates’ decision to loan out Radiopane

Former Orlando Pirates striker Andries Sebola has questioned the club’s decision to loan out promising striker Boitumelo Radiopane again.

The Buccaneers announced on Friday that the 20-year-old would be returning to the newly promoted side Cape Town Spurs on a season-long loan deal.

Radiopane spent last season at the Urban Warriors and scored seven goals in all competitions as the club finished in second place in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

However, Radiopane suffered a bone fracture during the PSL Promotional/Relegation playoffs and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

ANDRIES SEBOLA QUESTIONS ORLANDO PIRATES DECISION

The loan move is seen as a positive step to allow the Pirates youth graduate to recover and gain some game time in a less pressure situation. But Sebola, known as ‘Super Sub’ during his playing days at Pirates, begs to differ.

“I wanted that boy to come back because Pirates can not develop for other teams. They need to bring him back; whether he is still injured, he will come back after three months. So I am really not happy,” Sebola told FARPost.

“Boitumelo Radiopane is ready. He has done well for Cape Town Spurs. Shaun Bartlett is talking big about him. He has built him because Shaun used to be a striker for Bafana Bafana and also overseas.

“At Pirates, they need him upfront so that they can compete. I am not happy [with the Pirates strike force] [Zakhele] Lepasa is back from loan at SuperSport United. But the coach was not giving him enough time to play,” added Sebola.

“[Kwame] Peprah is going, [Bienvenu] Eva Nga is going, but they are not reinforcing upfront; instead, they are only adding players in the middle and at the back. That’s what I am not happy about.’

BOITUMELO RADOPANE READY FOR THE BIG TASK?

“Age is just a number. The boy is ready, you can see, even at Spurs, the way he was scoring goals left, right and centre when he was given a chance to play.

“That’s why I am saying it’s a big mistake what Pirates are doing, more especially the coach [Jose Riveiro]. I think if he doesn’t do well in Africa [CAF Champions League], heads will roll.

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