Asavela to hit ground running for Sea Robbers
FORMER Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Asavela Mbekile is looking forward to getting game time at his new home Orlando Pirates.
The Cofimvaba born and bred Mbekile was unveiled by the Soweto giants alongside eight new signings that included former Kaizer Chiefs second choice keeper, Brilliant Khuzwayo, former Bidvest Wits forward Vincent Pule, and midfielder Ben Motshwari on Monday.
Mbekile told the Daily Dispatch he just wanted to feature more in PSL games after having spent most of his career on the bench at Downs.
“I just want to play again because at Sundowns I wasn’t playing for a long-time. And I think in the team [Pirates] all the guys are aiming to win the league. So I’m going to join them with that ambition,” he said.
“I feel very excited about this move because as a player you would want to go to a club where you’ll get game time. So going to Pirates is a good move for me at this point in time,” added Mbekile.
He said he didn’t think twice about joining Milutin Sredojevic’s charges although there were no hard feelings with Pitso Mosimane.
“Leaving Sundowns was easy for me. As you’ll remember, I’ve been there for a long time, and I was happy there. But my contract was not renewed so I didn’t have a choice but to leave.
“And working with coach Pitso was great. He’s a good coach and I’ve learnt a lot from him, but I needed this change in my life.”
Mbekile said his move from Chloorkop to Soweto was still unbelievable for him because the “Sea Robbers” managed to produce the goods this season which is what he was after.
“This has not sunk in as yet and maybe that’s because we haven’t started training yet, and I will make sure that I bring 100% to the team. This is a new chapter in my life that I’m going to embrace with both hands,” said Mbekile.
The former Chippa United skipper said having started playing in his hometown before seeing the need to relocate to Cape Town where there are professional teams, he’d like see to more young boys from the province playing at the highest level of the beautiful game.
“I studied my high school in Mthatha, so I played for the local teams there and I would like to encourage guys from the province to take their trade seriously and work hard for their dreams because I’m leaving my dream.
“And they should never listen to people who say they can’t do something they want to do,” he added.