Yanela Mbuthuma's contributions to Orlando Pirates have been considerably underestimated, according to club legend Lucky Lekgwathi. While the young striker has recorded five goals and one assist in nineteen appearances this season, he has faced criticism from sections of the fanbase regarding his goal-scoring output. However, Lekgwathi argues that this assessment fundamentally misunderstands Mbuthuma's role within the team's attacking structure. The former Pirates captain emphasizes that the centre forward's work ethic and positioning create crucial opportunities for the club's prolific goalscorers, Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng, who have each netted eleven goals this campaign.
Lekgwathi believes Mbuthuma deserves substantial credit for enabling his teammates' success. Speaking to iDiski Times, the Pirates legend highlighted how Mbuthuma consistently creates space for attacking partners through intelligent movement and defensive responsibilities, making it considerably easier for the Footballer of the Season contenders to find the back of the net. The mobile striker's work in drawing defenders away from the play has proven instrumental in the team's overall attacking efficiency and recent consistent goal-scoring displays.
Beyond Mbuthuma's individual impact, Lekgwathi praised the collective effort across the Pirates squad as the league reaches its climax. He noted that the players are maintaining strong work rates in both defensive and attacking phases while pursuing individual accolades such as Player of the Season nominations. With significant matches ahead, including fixtures against rivals like Kaizer Chiefs, Lekgwathi believes the players possess sufficient motivation through both league ambitions and opportunities with Bafana Bafana to sustain their impressive form.