With the MTN8 title defence wrapped up two weekends ago, all it means is that Fortune Makaringe has managed to win an impressive four trophies in four seasons with Orlando Pirates under two different coaches, in Josef Zinnbauer and Jose Riveiro. Still, though, the 30-yearold's thirst for more success remains insatiable, and his side's next big quest is wrestling league glory from the firm clasp of Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won the last six on the trot. On a personal note, he has had his ups and downs with the Soweto giants, at times finding game-time hard to come by, but he remains one of the players high on the list of favourites by the club's fans. Taking a moment to soak in the satisfaction that comes with lifting a title so early in the season, the former Maritzburg United man speaks to Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver in this interview about the Buccaneers' road to the final, why the support of their die-hard fans is of utmost importance and the freedom given to them to express themselves by Riveiro.
Delmain Faver: Fortune, congratulations on winning your second MTN8 trophy in a row. Just taking a step back, we were fortunate enough to be in attendance in Diepkloof, where the club hosted an activation to rally the fans ahead of that all-important second leg semi-final against Stellenbosch FC. How vital was it to get the fans on your side before a match that ultimately sealed your place in the final of the competition?
Fortune Makaringe: It was a very big one for us, which is the main reason why we called on our supporters to actually come in numbers as much as they have been doing, and we appreciate that. So, we knew very well that it was a match that we needed to play because it was not over yet. We were still in halftime. We therefore needed to go out there and we needed our people to come in numbers to give us that morale boost, to make sure that we got to the final. We had to play to get to the final so we could defend our title.
DF: How refreshing was it to know that the fans were still behind you guys despite the consecutive defeats leading up to the final, as they came out in their numbers showing support to their beloved team?
FM: I think it is very motivating for us, and we are getting that courage from knowing that we have our people behind us. It's for us to actually keep that in mind and always play for them because we always play for them. We always go out there to play to win and I am happy that they are starting to realise that it is a whole journey and that we are going through a process and we need to stick together, whether we win or we lose. The good thing is that we have been giving top performances, which is what anyone can expect from the Buccaneers, going out there to make sure we put in a performance. If we take care of the performance, then the result will take care of itself.
DF: As the defending champions, coming up against a Mamelodi Sundowns side that had beaten you three times in a row without conceding a goal, was there more pressure knowing that you guys did not have the best record against them?
FM: The good thing is that… The most important thing that we always remind one another about is that we play for Orlando Pirates and we always play to win. So, it was one game that we needed to go and play to win, and we would worry about defending the title after we won this match. We needed to win that match so that we could think of other things.
DF: You've already won one trophy, though we are still fresh into the season, particularly for the Soweto giants, who've played just five league matches so far. However, if you look at social media and the sentiment from your fans, the big one that they want is the league, with the club having now last won it during the double-treble days. As players, how do you feel about this public request from your supporters?
FM: The one thing about the Buccaneers is that we share the very same sentiment and everything. So I know very well that we play for Orlando Pirates – Once and Always, so it has always been there (the desire to always win). It's not something that's new. So, what's more important is how we approach each and every game because the league is a marathon, so we need to take care of each and every game as it comes.
DF: When we spoke to you last season, you said that it was for you to learn because at the time you weren't playing as much. You said you were observing from the outside watching what needed to be done and learning and then implementing. It's a new season now and we see that you are gradually getting game-time. Is it a campaign of implementing what you said you learned?
FM: We keep learning each and every day, and that is one thing that I have learned as a footballer and as a human being, to say we keep learning each and every day. There are more things that are being instilled in us and I have to learn so that I can help my teammates. As much as we have been helping one another, we learn as much as possible and (you) implement where you need to implement. So, it's more about everyone going in and making sure that we help one another. I love the fact that we have a very big squad with quality players, so whenever one goes in, you know very well that they are going to deliver.
DF: Talking of helping your teammates, when you first came in, you became a fan-favourite. There are two more players who have received that title – Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng. Having been there and done that, what do you say to them as they need to manage the expectations of the coaching staff while trying to impress the fans who have spent their hard-earned money to come watch them and the rest of the team at the stadium?
FM: It's more about appreciating one another because we make one another look good. I love the fact that they know very well that they are becoming fan-favorites because of their teammates, their colleagues. So, they are becoming our favourites as teammates because we are also their favourites as we're helping one another. It's more about motivating one another and taking care of one another, looking out for one another in everything, and everything else will follow.
DF: Coach Jose Riveiro has spoken about 'structured freedom'. This was when there were questions posed to him about the players who expressed their skill and your name came up. He said you guys have structured freedom. Does that give you confidence as a player to go out there, do your thing and express yourself as much as you possibly can?
FM: We have come to a point where it is actually being motivated and encouraged for us to actually express ourselves because football is all about having fun. I don't think our supporters would actually come in numbers if we were playing football that was not entertaining for them. They are coming there because of a lot of things that they are going through in their lives. They are going there for entertainment, and yeah, expressing ourselves by dribbling and all that is one form of entertainment, which is why we keep trying to score as many goals as possible so that they can also be entertained by that. So, it's more about freedom of expression on the field of play and knowing very well that you don't play for yourself, you play for a lot of people, you play for the whole Orlando Pirates team.
DF: The one thing that we see is that the playing field for every player at Pirates is even, whether you've been at the club for 10 years or 10 months, as is the case with Siphelo Baloni who was entrusted with starting a huge match like the one against Sundowns despite being relatively new at the club. Does that give you a boost as a player knowing that you basically select yourself based on the output you give at training?
FM: It is a very good feeling because we know very well that you will get the support from your teammates, the technical team and the staff. That's one thing that we have become more of: a family that supports one another, which is why I also mentioned that when someone goes in, we give him the support and we make sure that we go there and fight for one another. So, we become one another's favourite in that form. That is one of the key components in our team, to make sure that we fight for one another. If we stay as a family, then everything else will sort itself out.
FORTUNE MAKARINGE FACT FILE
Date of birth: 13 May 1993
Place of birth: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Position: Midfielder
Jersey number: 11
Club: Orlando Pirates
Previous clubs: Swallows FC juniors, Maritzburg United
Honours: 2017/18 Nedbank Cup runner-up (with Maritzburg) 2020 MTN8 winner, 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup runner-up, 2022/23 Nedbank Cup winner, 2022 MTN8 winner, 2023 MTN8 winner (all with Pirates)
