Yakubu shames Pirates coach with debut goal

Ghanaian striker Yakubu Mohammed has shamed Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa by scoring his debut goal in the South African top flight to hand Maritzburg United a priceless win over Polokwane City on Saturday.

Mohammed had arrived in South Africa early last month to originally sign for the Buccanneers from Ghana Premier League side AshantiGold.


He was however labelled an ‘unfit’ player after being given only 30 minutes in a game during his trials with Pirates. Coach Roger De Sa later passed a damning verdict on the Ghanaian – claiming he was simply not fit enough to be signed.


“He had one session and after 30 minutes he pulled off. He was out of breath and he couldn’t keep up,” he said.


“So I mean really are we going to sign a player who can only do 30 minutes of training?


“You must remember that if you are going to bring in a foreigner he must be better than what you have.


“That’s why our national team struggles, because every foreigner that arrives here with a half a CV, we sign. We’ve got to think local if they are not better than the locals.”

De Sa’s damning comments over the player raised several doubts of the quality of the Ghana Premier League as Mohammed was one of the leading performers in the Ghanaian top flight.


Mohammed with a battered reputation however managed to impress Maritzburg coach Ernst Middendorp who decided to hand the forceful striker a four-year deal.


The former Ghana Premier League Goal King contender wasted no time at all in repaying the massive faith reposed in him.


After sending his powerful free-kick over the crossbar in the fifth minute, shooting wide of the upright seconds later, Mohammed blasted in off a rebounded free kick in the 68th minute to send the home crowd into frenzy.


His spectacular strike happened to be the match winner that hands Maritzburg their first win of the new season.


Mohammed’s strike despite bringing great joy to followers of the Team of choice will leave fans of rivals Orlando Pirates ruing their missed chance of signing such a quality striker due to a suspected case of incompetence and impatience on the side of their coach Roger De Sa.