The inspiration behind Thalente Mbatha’s long-range strike

By Velile Mnyandu
13th January 2025

Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha says his trademark long-range strikes result from a special shooting practice programme that he undergoes at training.

Speaking to SABC Sport during the mixed zone after helping Pirates to reach the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League, Mbatha says he always gets encouragement from his teammates.

The 24-year-old’s second-half thunderbolt during the 2-1 win over CR Belouizdad sent Esgodini into a frenzy.

"For me, playing at home I think it gives me confidence that I must take on shots and the players tell me that I must take a shot through the game because it's something that I've been doing at training,” Mbatha said.

“So, I think the confidence comes from doing the shots at training and coming to execute at the end of the game.”

READ: Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach on the team’s inconsistent run

In his first two games for Bafana, he also scored some scorchers, and the first goal was also at ESgodini against Uganda. But it’s also the qualification for the Champions League last eight that is special for the Buccaneers.

With one game to go, they are only one of two unbeaten teams in the group stages, the other being AS FAR.

Mbatha says head coach Jose Riveiro has always believed that they can achieve this.

"It's very special because it's my first time qualifying for the Champions League so it's something that really is close to my heart and scoring the goal to make the team qualify it's something that will always be here,” he added.

“I could say that it's working as a team and believing in ourselves and the confidence that the coach gives us because he's one person who's really confident with us. He tells us that the team has too much quality so we have what it takes to qualify for Champions League."

Pirates will leave for Cairo later this week, where they will be wrapping up their Group C programme against record 12-time champions Al Ahly.

Mbatha says consistency will be the order of the day in this game.

"I think for us it's maintaining the level that we've been playing with and it's a level where we've been getting results so it's something that we should continue doing and continue having the consistency."