Sangweni vows to revive Bucs
Thami focused on winning trophies
Orlando Pirates may be struggling but new signing Thamsanqa Sangweni sees them winning trophies in the near future.
Bucs have gone three full seasons without a trophy. Their last silverware was the Nedbank Cup in 2014.
Sangweni, 28, has joined Pirates on a three-year deal even though he was very close to joining Bidvest Wits. He shied away from discussing how Pirates snatched him, but was happy to talk about his ambitions with the Buccaneers.
“Nothing happened, but let me leave it there (he laughs). I thought I was going to move there [Wits], but everything just changed all of a sudden,” he said evasively yesterday when asked about Wits. “As a person, I have ambitions to win trophies.”
He was speaking at Adidas’ football base in Paulshof, in Johannesburg, where Pirates unveiled their new kit for the 2017/18 season.
“I look forward to work and achieve a lot with the guys.”
Sangweni previously played in Gauteng for Mamelodi Sundowns between 2012 and 2014, but it wasn’t a successful stay. He was loaned to Ajax Cape Town and eventually sold to Chippa United.
“I won’t talk about Sundowns much you know. What I can say is that it was an experience for me to be there,” he said.
The Empangeni, KwaZulu Natal-born midfielder said he took the right decision to leave Sundowns in search of regular playing time.
“It was a good lesson at Sundowns. I moved there when I was young and I learnt a lot even from coach Pitso [Mosimane]. Even when I left he didn’t want me to go and I forced my way out,” Sangweni explained.
“I’m grateful to Chippa [Mpengesi], and without him, I wouldn’t be here today. But now I’m here at Orlando Pirates and I’m looking forward to making history.”
His big brother Siyabonga, who has since retired, had a successful stay with Pirates.
The younger Sangweni believes he has had good advice from his older brother and is ready to make his mark.
“We talk a lot, me and Siya – about a lot of things. He told me a lot about Pirates, but the most important thing he said to me was that I must know why I’m here and focus on my game. Jo’burg is a busy place, everyone knows that, but I will focus on my game.”
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‘‘ Jo’burg is a busy place, but I will focus on my game