Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule says the Buccaneers are reaping the rewards from their pre-season in Spain after lifting their fourth successive MTN8 trophy.
Mbule, 28, lifted the Wafa Wafa trophy for a second after also claiming it with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021.
On Saturday, he started the game in the absence of Patrick Maswanganyi, featuring 61 minutes before being replaced by Oswin Appollis, who later assisted two goals in extra-time.
“I think the past two weeks haven’t been easy, but I think it’s the work rate that we’ve been doing in pre-season,” he told SuperSport TV.
“I think you can see it, even today in extra-time, everyone is fit and it’s because of the work we’ve done in Spain, and the work also now when we came back.”
Mbule also thanked Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos for recalling him to the national team after he featured in both 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.
“About the national team, I was quite happy with the the way we played also and the minutes that I got and the chance from coach Hugo,” he added.
“But I think it was just a stepping stone for me to improve even more. And to come here at Pirates and show what I showed in the national team.”
Mbule was then asked about his new number 10 role in the absence of Maswanganyi, joking he’s ready to fill any midfield void.
“Mbule as a 10, Mbule as an eight, Masterchef as a six, I think where ever I’m at I must do the job, I must cook, I don’t have a choice,” he concluded smiling.