PULE STARS IN WITS’ TELKOM VICTORY
who flicked Amr Gamal’s low cross into the net, instinctively going for the first-time finish rather than trying to control the ball and shoot.
It is a piece of skill that required not just technical ability, but confidence too, and this season Pule has that in abundance as he floats between starting and coming off the bench as an effective impact player.
This has already been his best season in terms of league starts and he also scored a crucial winner in a 1-0 away victory over Baroka FC.
“As a player you have to grow up at some stage. You should get better every season. I believe I have grown this season and am becoming a better player,” Pule told Daily Sun.
“I also think the coach believes in me, and I just have to believe more in myself to get more game-time. I have worked hard to impress the coach in the last two years and now I can tell I’m slowly getting there. But I know I will need to stay consistent.”
He will now hope that his cup final goal, which is catapulted him on to the back pages of newspapers, will be another lift to his career.
"The coach told me I should stay behind Gamal and not allow them (Celtic) to play at the back, just play as the second striker," Pule said of his performance on Saturday.
"And while I was on the bench, the coach kept telling me I must watch the game, stay focused and at the end I scored. But what I can say is that we played well, we fought hard and I just had to do the job."
Pule is confident that the cup victory can turn the season around for Wits, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Absa Premiership table despite their status as defending champions.
Next up for them is a home meeting with struggling Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday, a fixture that is available to Soccer 4, Soccer 6 and Soccer 10 punters.
"I think this win is going to change the season for us because we haven't been doing very well. As a team we are fighting. This team has a lot of fighters,” Pule said.
“As a player you want to do well in every game. It’s not about when the team is not doing well and then you drop your head. You have to keep on going,” he told reporters last week.
“At the moment it’s just that my confidence is high. It’s been great for me to get an opportunity and a chance to play. And when I get in I try to give it everything to keep my place.”
Pule was born in the Free State and started his career with then National First Division side African Warriors in the 2012/13 season, before signing for Wits in 2014.