Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says striker Tshegofatso Mabasa is fit and will get his chance after missing out on the first two match day squads.
Mabasa, 28, has been the top scorer for Pirates last season with 13 goals in all competitions and won the league Golden Boot in the 2023/24 season with 16 goals, six of which came in the first half of the campaign on loan at the now-defunct Moroka Swallows.
His exclusion from the MTN8 win over Polokwane City draw some eyebrows, but the 2-0 win over Boitumelo Radiopane impressing doesn’t raise many questions, with Yanela Mbuthuma, a new signing making his debut from the bench.
And the same duo featured again this evening against Sekhukhune United as their season started off with a surprise 1-0 defeat at Orlando Stadium – where another senior international Evidence Makgopa was also in the stands.
But Ouaddou again emphasised, he based his selection on those who deserves it from the output in training, suggesting the young talent strikers have earned their opportunities to feature.
“No, like I told you in the previous press conference, Mabasa is available, it’s a choice that we did, but he is ready and when we will call him, I think he will be able to perform and give us the best of him,” Ouaddou said when asked by iDiski Times about his absence.
“Of course you can maybe ask some questions [about his exclusion] because the strikers that we used didn’t score, so of course I understand your question. But like I said, we have a lot of players this season and everyone will get their chance on right moment.”
Pirates now turn their attention to Ouaddou’s former club Marumo Gallants with an away trip to Bloemfontein at the Dr Molemela Stadium.
