Orlando Pirates hero Tshegofatso Mabasa responds to his maiden hat-trick as a professional footballer after helping his side last weekend. Mabasa netted three times to help Pirates demolish Golden Arrows 7-1 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening. Mabasa says he is lost for words and explains that his job is to score goals for the Soweto giants as they also chase the Nedbank Cup title.
From the victory over Steve Komphela’s Arrows in Soweto, Pirates now sit third on the DStv Premiership log table with 37 points from 23 matches. Under the guidance of Jose Riveiro, Pirates ran riot in front of their home crowds and the former Bloemfontein Celtic hitman, Mabasa can’t describe his excitement.
Mabasa: Excited Star and Reacts to First Hat-trick as a Pro
As per the norm in football, a player who scores a hat-trick is handed the match ball as a token of appreciation and luckily Mabasa was also the Man of the Match.
The 27-year-old striker, Mabasa boasts seven goals in eight matches since the Buccaneers recalled him in January from a loan spell at Moroka Swallows.
“I don’t have enough words to describe how I am feeling, and (to describe) the game we managed to display for the people here,” Mabasa told SuperSport TV.
“We had to fix the displays in our last two matches. We deserved the points but never took our chances. Today we took our chances. It is crazy, this is a talented team. And if we believe in the abilities we have an listen to the coaches’ instructions we can go very far. People will begin to notice what Pirates are about.”
The burly forward, Mabasa also shared his reason or idea behind his celebrations as he also scored against Sekhukhune United last week – he can be seen spreading his arms wide in front of the fans. Mabasa also made history as he netted his maiden hat-trick in the Premier Soccer League as a professional footballer.
“It is just for people to know that I am back home and I am here to score goals, it is exactly what I want to do. The match ball means three goals and I am very happy. It’s just for people to know that I’m back home,” Mabasa told SuperSport.
“And I’m here to score goals and that is exactly what I want to do. The match ball, that means three goals. I’m happy and just very happy for the goals, happy for the team performance and we need to improve and get the results and we’ve been doing that so I’m just happy for that and grateful for that.”
Mabasa: Riveiro Delighted for His Golden Boot Candidate
Meanwhile, Riveiro added that he is delighted for his Bafana Bafana international, saying he has a chance to challenge for the Golden Boot Award.
“Like every other player [Mabasa is the same] confidence and continuity it is key to performing, sometimes we’re not fair when we give one game in isolation, it’s not going to tell you the truth about the player,” Riveiro said at Orlando Stadium.
“So the moment that you… first of all, if you’re playing regularly, it means that confidence is in you, from everyone around you and football form usually comes with competition. If now we speak positions like Tshego’s position, a specialist. Even though the role of the goalkeeper is now much bigger than before, they have to contribute and do a lot of things – like I said a few weeks ago, Tshego, like all other strikers in the squad as a player, helps the team play better.”
“He has also the capacity to score goals like the rest of our strikers, so absolutely yes, to answer your question, but again, confidence continuity, have the opportunity to repeat in the starting eleven, or close to repeating the starting eleven like today.”
After this big victory, Pirates will now face another KZN side, AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup next weekend away from home.
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