......but wayward defender might still be loaned out.Makonese, who has only made one appearance for the Johannesburg side since the beginning of the 2010-11 season and is already out-of-favour with coach Rudi Krol, made things worse for himself when he took off more time that permitted during the Christmas Holidays.
Prior to his latest absenteeism, the steely defender had been ordered to train with Pirates reserves, the second time this has happened and all for the same reasons ill-discipline.
However, the defender was hauled back to the first team Monday last week, with the 33-year-old saying no disciplinary action had been taken against him and that no talk of a move has been mentioned to him by the end of the week.
“It feels good to be back and training with the first team and I am now focused on getting back to the starting line-up,” said the former Shabanie Mine defender last week.
“Everything is going well for me so far and I hope things improve for the better as I am determined to get my career back on track. Competition for places in the team is very tough and that is why it has been difficult for me to keep my jersey. These things happen in football. But, I understand football and I know that no-one is guaranteed a place in the team and that is why I am always happy to go to training and work even harder to change my situation for the better.”
Depite Pirates insisting that the defender would not be released, sources at the club maintain that he might find himself being put out on loan, with either of Kwazulu-Natal-based Maritzburg United and Rustenburg-based Platinum Stars being his possible destination.
Pirates spokesman, Micky Modisane, dismissed the speculation.
With the transfer period open, it is natural that people get excited and become extremely anxious with regard to players movements and so on, said Modisane.
This period has often prompted people to speculate and fabricate news out of nothing which in most cases causes serious disturbances on the clubs. I have become accustomed to that type of anxiety from those people whenever this period arrive, hence I am not troubled by the growing number of speculations regarding what is happening at our club.
He added that Pirates were a team in good spirit and did not need unnecessary pressure which is only meant to destabilise the team.
Post published in: Football