Orlando Pirates' young striker, Evidence Makgopa, has recently been facing the wrath of booing fans, but seasoned football veterans remind us that even legends faced similar challenges in their careers.

Makgopa, just 23 years old, found himself in the spotlight when he scored his first goal for the club in a match against Cape Town Spurs, albeit in a 2-1 defeat. This was his third league start this season, showing signs of progress after a slow start to his Pirates career. Nevertheless, some fans have been seen expressing their displeasure through boos and substitution signs during matches against Polokwane and Spurs.

Former Pirates striker James Mothibi, who knows the ups and downs of a football career, offered words of encouragement to Makgopa. In an interview with Soccer Laduma, Mothibi emphasized the importance of support, saying, "I feel it is important that I send a message of support to Evidence Makgopa because as a young player, I feel that he needs it."

Mothibi shared his own experiences, stating that he never faced such situations but witnessed his teammates being booed.

Drawing a parallel to the legendary Phil Masinga, Mothibi noted that Masinga, despite being booed during his time, eventually took South Africa to its first-ever World Cup.

Mothibi encouraged Makgopa to stay focused on the coach's instructions and continue fighting for the badge. He assured Makgopa that he has support from the club's office, coaches, players, and the revered legends of Orlando Pirates.

After Makgopa faced criticism from fans during a match against Polokwane City, Pirates' coach, Jose Riveiro, implored the supporters to back the young player.

As Pirates prepared to face Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout this Saturday, the line-up choices remained a subject of intrigue, especially after Makgopa was replaced by Zakhele Lepasa in the previous match against Spurs. The availability of key players, including goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, defender Paseka Mako and captain Innocent Maela were still uncertain due to injuries as they wrapped up their preparations for the upcoming match.

Despite the challenges, Pirates will soon be in action again in the DStv Premiership, facing Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium on November 7.

Lessons from legends for Orlando Pirates' Evidence Makgopa