Orlando Pirates defender Bongani Sam's improving performances haven't gone unnoticed, with club legend Edward Motale one of those impressed with the 23-year-old player's progress.
Since getting his first start of the season in Josef Zinnbauer's team against Golden Arrows, the left-back hasn't looked back and has already made three starts in a row and scored a goal, which helped the Buccaneers to earn a point in their 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy on Tuesday.
After being linked with a move away from Bucs to the likes of his former club Bloemfontein Celtic, SuperSport United and AmaZulu on loan when he was struggling for game time, indications are that the player would no longer be available for any switch after proving how influential he could be in Pirates' title aspirations this season and beyond.
"I fought for Sam from when he played for Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup (in 2019) and I told Micho (Milutin Sredojevic) that I had been following the boy from Celtic and I was impressed. He was the only boy who would go on attack and come back to defend at the same pace. I told him that the boy would do wonders for the club (Pirates). You must remember that at Celtic he didn't play in a proper structure compared to Pirates where he's got proper support where if he goes up the field, a player like Vincent Pule is there to cover for him," said Motale, speaking to the Siya crew.
"I told them (Pirates), 'Play this boy.' I'm happy that they are now playing him, and he is doing well. I am aware that there had been talks that he would be loaned to Golden Arrows or AmaZulu and that would have been a mistake. I was going to be very disappointed about that. The boy has got energy and speed and is still young. He is an asset to the club," said the former left-back.
