Mabasa Targets Tso’s Pirates Record Before AFCON

Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa says he’s targeting to break the club’s all-time scoring record before the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mabasa, 28, has scored 46 goals in 167 games across all competitions for the club, leaving him just six goals off legendary midfielder Benedict Vilakazi’s 52.

With the striker scoring 34 goals in the last two seasons, he appears confident that 2025/26 season will be the one where he etches his name into the club’s history books.

“I’m looking to have a very big season, and I think I’m 10 or 11 goals away, I want to achieve that record before AFCON starts,” Mabasa said when asked by iDiski Times if he has an eye on the all-time scoring record at the club.

“It is [possible], in August we already have five games, six with MTN8, so I don’t see why [I can’t break the record].”

The 2023/24 Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot winner says he’s not fazed by adding pressure on himself by publicly setting his targets.

“I don’t see pressure anymore, it’s about speaking things into existence, speaking things into life,” he added.

“It’s how my mother has raised me, it’s about speaking it to life, and it will happen.”

Overall, Mabasa has scored 66 goals in 226 games in the South African top-flight for Pirates, Bloemfontein Celtic, Moroka Swallows and Sekhukhune United.