Orlando Pirates is slowly moulding into the team it should be, the team South Africa expects it to be. What has dramatically helped this process of rebuilding along is the presence of a dangerman, Tendai Ndoro. A prolific striker in a South African side is about as valuable and scarce as water is to the Karoo, but it has come at the price of a forgotten Pirate: Thamsanqa Gabuza.
Gabuza is one of the more beloved sons to emerge from Parktown. Memories of his extraordinary and timely goals will not leave South African hearts and minds anytime soon.
However, form is key in football, and it is uncertain whether the memory of greatness is enough to hold him in his position. Some Soccer Laduma website users think it will, though.
"Gabuza played more competitive games (than Ndoro) for Bafana/Pirates, and scored more important goals." – Daniel Madenza Kutunela
There are those among the Buccaneer faithful, however, who think history counts for nothing when you have the choice between an in-form and out-of-form striker.
"It's the end of the road for Gabuza at Pirates. Only Tinkler believes in him." – TBS
"He (Gabuza) is a talented striker in his own right, just in a bit of a dry period." – The_OP_Express
"Gabuza will come back but it is Tendai’s turn at the moment." – Futbol_Lava
"When times are dark, friends are few." – mshuzero.
So it seems it comes down to that age-old saying: form is temporary, class is permanent. At Orlando Pirates, we are witnessing two strikers, one out of form; one in form… The question is: which one is actually class?
Will we see the return of Gabuza? Or is it Tendai's time for a while to come?
