I have to deliver

IT DON’T THINK “I WAS THE RIGHT FOR THING TO DO, PERSONALLY.” ME

The problems at Moroka Swallows played a part in opening the door for Tshegofatso Mabasa to return to Orlando Pirates, having spent the first half of the campaign on loan to the Dube Birds. Mabasa had been away from the Buccaneers for some time, having also spent a season on loan to Sekhukhune United. Now back with the Soweto giants, the former Bloemfontein Celtic striker wants to make the most of the opportunity that has been presented to him. He has made a promising start on his return to the club, and he will be looking to build on this going forward. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane, the striker talks about why he was happy with his performance in the Soweto Derby last weekend and how his return to the Buccaneers happened.

Tshepang Mailwane: Howzit Tshego, thanks for being with us. How crazy was the Soweto Derby last weekend with all that action and goals?

Tshegofatso Mabasa: I played in the Telkom (Knockout) a few years ago and we lost on penalties. I started that one. Then the following week, I think we played a derby in the league at FNB Stadium (in 2019), where they beat us 3-2. They got a last-minute penalty where (Daniel) Cardoso scored. Then I was involved in this one where we won 3-2. It’s always a special occasion playing in the derby. It’s something that you can’t explain. The atmosphere alone… as soon as you stepped onto the field, you could hear the noise in that stadium. It’s something else and it gave me goosebumps. It’s one of my proudest moments in my career, to be part of the Soweto Derby. I missed it a lot. As a footballer, all you want to do is play football in front of big crowds and on Saturday that’s exactly what happened. I think we enjoyed the occasion. But we didn’t play the occasion, we played the match, and that’s why we managed to put in that performance and get all three points.

TM: What inspired the comeback in the second half?

TM:

I think it started long before the derby. On Wednesday, after the Cape Town Spurs game, in the changing room, we were not happy at all with the result that we got. The coach [Jose Riveiro] himself was not happy. He said a few things. One was that we have to pick our heads up and have to go into the derby and fight and come away with the three points because we owe it to our supporters, especially after the disappointing showing during the week. He told us not to play the occasion, but we should play the game. That’s what he was preaching through the week. We tried to keep our performance as professional as possible, and we tried not to get distracted by the occasion.

TM: It sounds like you guys always believed that you’d be able to come back and win the game.

TM:

Yes, definitely. There is a clip that’s circulating on the internet. ‘Tito’ (Patrick Maswanganyi) was saying something in the dressing room, that we should continue to play the football that we were playing and we will create even more and get more opportunities and we will eventually win the game. We all had that sense of belief that even if we were down, we were never going to lose that game. That’s the belief that we have in one another and the support we show one another as well.

TM: Being part of the game which produced five goals must have been great, but surely you wanted to get your name on the scoresheet too?

TM:

Definitely. But through the phases and places I have been to in my career, I’ve learnt that, as a striker, it’s not only about scoring goals. There are roles you are going to play in certain matches and it’s going to help the team to win, but you won’t score, you understand?

TM: Sure… TM:

There were times Pep (Guardiola) would play Ferran Torres as a nine and he is not a nine. He played him as a false nine, just to move defenders away. I felt like I always had two people on me during the game, which allowed ‘Tito’ to have the freedom and the space in the pockets and we managed to exploit it. Sometimes I am going to be told to play a different role and it won’t end up with me getting chances, but it will help the team in terms of creating more chances.

TM: So, was that the plan on the day for you from the coach? To basically be a nuisance…

TM:

Yes, just be a nuisance to the two defenders and keep them busy and as deep as possible, so that our players can have spaces in behind their midfield as well.

TM: Do you think you did it well? TM:

Look, I honestly believe I did it well. I honestly believe it was one of my best games, especially for the club. And to do it in the derby meant a lot. I think it was a good performance.

TM: How do you go about educating supporters on how roles can change, especially for a striker, because some might not be happy with the fact that you didn’t score? If they don’t know what your role is on the day, they are just going to expect you to score…

TM:

That’s a very difficult question. It’s almost impossible to educate fans on such. There are some fans who are aware of the tactical side of the game and where football is going, and some aren’t. Some just want to see the number 9 scoring and the number 10 creating and the winger crossing the ball, you understand?

TM: Yes… TM:

So, it’s very difficult. I think it’s impossible to explain it to fans. Some have the eye and some have noticed that.

TM: Let’s move on to your return to Pirates. How crucial is it to make use of this opportunity after going out on loan twice?

TM:

It’s very crucial, especially when you look at the age I am at and where I still want to go with my football. I think this was a defining career move for me, in order for me to come back to the club. I have to deliver because I can only improve from here on, with all the experience that I’ve gained from going to other clubs and experiencing different scenarios. The most important thing in the second half of the season is to show my worth and quality, given the chance to.

TM: After performing well in the Cosafa Cup last year for Bafana Bafana, did you hope that Pirates would not send you out on loan again?

TM:

I was sort of hoping that it would get me back (to Pirates). I was hoping that it would put some doubt in their mind in terms of letting

me go out on loan. I know the club’s struggles in front of goals and I believe I am one who can help with that because that’s my specialty, to score goals. That’s what I want to do for the club.

TM: But do you think the time you spent with Moroka Swallows did anything for you in a positive way?

TM:

Yes, I definitely think so. I was fortunate that I got another chance to work with coach Steve (Komphela). He is one person who has always believed in me and knows my abilities.

He just wanted me to do my best. As long as I do my best, football will reward me.

TM: So, why did you return to Pirates halfway through the season?

TM:

I think the situation at Swallows also played a part, in terms of what’s happening behind closed doors. It was a bit difficult for players and I think it still is right now. For me, in my career, I did not want to experience such problems. I just wanted to focus on my football and getting back everything and all the time that I have lost.

TM: What was your personal experience at Swallows like in terms of what had come out in the media, like money and players going on strike?

TM:

It impacted me quite a lot. We struggled. The team was doing well and I felt that it was a good stepping stone to get back to where I was and for people to remember me and what I am capable of. What happened at Swallows was sort of a step back and I did not want to be a part of that. I wanted to continue to build on my career, so I think coming back to Pirates was the best decision that I could have made.

TM: Were you ever affected moneywise at Swallows?

TM:

Not really. It happened during that period of December. That’s when all the players were affected, me included.

TM: Was it the first time experiencing such in your career?

TM: For me, it was, in terms of my salary. At Bloem Celtic, all those years ago, they also had a bit of financial difficulties, but it was never with our salaries. It was with our bonuses or sometimes signing-on-fee. Those are things I think you can live without, but you need your salary every month.

TM: Please explain the whole thing of players going on strike and not training… TM: We used to report for work and we would sit and wait to be addressed by the chairman (David Mogashoa). That’s what happened during that time. Every day, we reported for work.

TM: What was the longest the team went without training?

TM:

I think it was about 10 days before the SuperSport game on the 15th of December. It was very difficult, but as a professional, I know that most of us were doing our running to keep fit. Yes, we were not training in a team set-up, but we were training by ourselves. I think that’s what helped us a lot in that game against SuperSport, even though we began to tire and that’s when they scored the two goals and won the game.

TM: Whose decision was it for you to go back to Pirates?

TM:

They called me back and I also think it was based on the way that I was performing in the first half of the season. I think they felt that I could help the team in terms of getting goals.

TM: Before we let you go, former Pirates striker Eva Nga, in an interview with Soccer Laduma, spoke of how he felt that he was better than the strikers at the club. What are your thoughts on this?

TM:

As players, we react to situations differently. But, to go out publicly and do it like that, I don’t think it was the right thing to do, for me personally.

TM: Thank you so much for your time, Tshego. Good luck for the rest of the season.

TM: Thank you. ❐