Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha has given a word of praise on the calibre of Sipho Mbule, saying he brings a wealth of experience with them.
Mbule, 27, has won three trophies with former club Mamelodi Sundowns – two League titles and the African Football League and speaking to iDiski Times senior journalist Lorenz Köhler, Mbatha said that’s the kind of experience and competitiveness that will benefit Pirates especially in the league where they have been chasing for the past three seasons.
“It’s important to have such players who are used to winning,” Mbatha told iDiski Times.
“Look at Sipho Mbule as an example, at Sundowns, he was winning the league there, he knows what it takes to win a league, we benefit from that experience. We have Sihle Nduli, who comes from Stellenbosch, a team where they were used to winning. They give every team a run, not just Pirates, but [Kaizer] Chiefs, Sundowns, the league winners.
“So, it’s something great for us to have all these new players going into the new season.”
The Bafana Bafana international also added that the new group has already developed a healthy relationship with their new teammates and are just as motivated and share the same vision of being competitive.
“They are healthy people, and we have a healthy relationship with the new players,” added Mbatha.
“There’s nobody who doesn’t believe or doesn’t share the same vision that we have. We’re all on the same page; we want to compete again. We came close to the league and CAF Champions League, so it’s something really important. I feel that’s something that will strengthen the team; they will be able to help us.
“We don’t know what the coach’s plans are for us but having a coach like [Abdeslam] Ouaddou… and the players we have, we can achieve whatever we want to achieve.”
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