Tshegofatso Mabasa Targets More Goals Ahead of New Orlando Pirates Season
- Tshegofatso Mabasa aims to score more goals for Orlando Pirates this forthcoming season in all competitions
- The South African striker struggled in front of goal last season and ended with fewer goals compared to the 2023-24 season
- The 28-year-old also mentioned the person who encouraged him the most when he was going through a rough patch last campaign
Bafana Bafana striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has accepted the pressure at Orlando Pirates and he his aiming to score more goals for the Buccaneers next season.
The South African international struggled to make his mark with the Bucs last season after finishing the top scorer in the league in the 2023-24 season.
He found the back of the net 15 times in 48 appearance for Pirates last season as they finished as runner up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the league and were also heartbroken in the CAF Champions League by Pyramids FC coupled with losing the Nedbank Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs.
Source: Getty Images
Mabasa target more goals for Pirates
Ahead of the new season with a new coach at the helms of affairs, Mabasa promised to get better in front of goal for the Sea Robbers.
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The 28-year-old will battle for a place in the starting line up with Evidence Makgopa just like he did last season and with new players also joining the squad which means more competition for the former Moroka Swallows striker.
"The older I get, the less pressure affects me," said Tshegofatso Mabasa during the premiere of Orlando Pirates’ new docu-series Giants last week. "You can’t perform well without pressure."
Mabasa at some point last season lost his place in the starting line-up to Makgopa after dipping in form and struggled to get goals, the South African striker claimed Evidence offered him more support and don't see both of them as rivals in the squad.
"There’s healthy competition among us," he explained. "You can really see it after training during our finishing drills—the support and love we show one another is genuine."
Mabasa showered praises on Makgopa for his encouragement when he was going through tough time last campaign.
Source: Getty Images
"Take Evidence, for example—he knew everything I was going through last season, even while he was starting ahead of me. He supported me and always tried to lift me up. He’d be the first to say ‘areye ngwana’ (let’s go, kid). And I’d do the same for him."
That bond, Mabasa said, reflects the strong team spirit within the squad and also mentioned the experience they had with Boitumelo Radiopane when he scored his first goal for the club.
"When 'Radio' (Boitumelo Radiopane) scored his first goal, a penalty, every one of us ran to him to celebrate—including me. That just shows the unity in our team."
Pirates named among favourites to win Betway Premiership
Briefly News also reported that Orlando Pirates was named among the favourites clubs expected to win the Betway Premiership this season.
The Soweto-based club finished second last season on the league table behind Mamelodi Sundowns and have what it takes to win the title this campaign.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
