Despite a recent landmark achievement for Orlando Pirates, striker
Tshegofatso Mabasa finds himself in a familiar and frustrating position:
struggling for consistent game time under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
The 29-year-old reached a significant personal milestone in September,
netting his 50th goal for the Buccaneers. This feat is particularly
impressive given the stop-start nature of his career at the club since his
arrival in 2019.
However, rather than cementing his place following this achievement, Mabasa
has increasingly been relegated to the bench or left out of the squad
entirely. Sources close to the player have expressed growing concern over
his limited opportunities, especially given his proven ability to make an
impact when selected.
Throughout this challenging period, Mabasa is said to have shown immense
professionalism, continuing to work hard in training and delivering strong
performances whenever his chance arises.
While those close to the situation are hesitant to directly blame Coach
Ouaddou, there is a feeling that history may be repeating itself. They point
to the coach’s past handling of certain players, such as Junior Dion at
Marumo Gallants. After struggling for minutes under Ouaddou, Dion has since
flourished into one of the league’s top strikers at Golden Arrows.
Mabasa is no stranger to adversity. His career at Pirates has been
punctuated by loan spells at Sekhukhune United and Moroka Swallows, where
his goal-scoring prowess reminded everyone of his quality. His determined
return to the Buccaneers earlier this season even earned praise from club
legend Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi, as Mabasa closes in on his all-time PSL-era
scoring record.
For now, the striker’s camp insists he remains fully committed to fighting
for his place at Pirates rather than seeking an immediate exit. As the team
heads into a congested December schedule, which includes the Carling
Knockout Final, the question remains whether Mabasa will be given the chance
to turn his resilience into goals on the pitch.
