Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Thulani Hlatshwayo says it is time for each and every player in the team who has never won any silverware, to break that cycle and write their own history in the club’s books.
Pirates are favourites to win the MTN8 Wafa Wafa final against Bloemfontein Celtic. But Pirates will underestimate an in-form Celtic at their own peril.
The two sides lock horns at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.
On paper, Pirates are tipped to win the coveted MTN8 title. Since the start of the current season, Bucs made the right decision by signing quality players.
They are now a formidable team, capable of beating any team and winning competitions.
At the beginning of the season, Pirates announced the signing of Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and Namibia international Hotto from the now-defunct Bidvest Wits.
The coach says results are starting to show.
“I’m very glad we are in the final. I think it’s a first time for me. Yes, I know but it’s also a good point for the club, it has been a long time. If we have a chance we can win the title at the weekend. We had a good performance but not a good result if you want but it’s good for me to focus on the final,” says Joseph Zinnbauer.
Pirates have been unbeaten in their last 13 matches, but have now gone six years in the Premiership without winning any silverware. Hlatshwayo says the fact that Pirates has gone through a dry spell for so long, is motivation for them.
“ It has to be a motivation for us, having said that after six years the team hasn’t won any trophy, looking at how we’ve performed throughout the tournament, (we have to) make sure that we break that cycle and make sure that each and every player who hasn’t won a cup at Orlando Pirates writes their history in the club’s books.”
Celtic are notorious for being giant killers. Siwelele beat defending league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the quarter-finals of the MTN8.
They did not stop there, they also went on to knock out tournament favourites SuperSport United.
Despite doing well in the MTN8, Celtic stumbled in the league race losing three, drawing one and winning once.
