Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha says his thunderbolt against CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League is a product of a lot of work on the training ground.
Mbatha scored a scorcher as Pirates beat Belouizdad 2-1 to secure a place in the Champions League quarter-final on Sunday after picking up the ball in midfield, taking two touches, before firing an unstoppable shot just outside the box.
The goal turned out to be the match winner as the Algeria side scored a late consolation after Relebohile Mofokeng had given Pirates an early lead.
Where did the technique come from?
Mbatha says the technique came off well because he has been doing shooting practice in training, with his team-mates always encouraging him to do it in matches.
“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 told SABC.
“So, I think the confidence comes from doing the shots at training and coming to execute at the end of the game.”
The midfielder has a knack for scoring long-range strikes as he also did the same for Bafana Bafana in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda last September.
Mbatha lauds Riveiro for his belief in squad
Mbatha is thrilled that Pirates have made it to the Champions League quarter-final for the first time since 2013 and has lauded coach Jose Riveiro for giving players the belief.
“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.”
The Buccaneers will take on Egyptian giants and holders Al Ahly in their final group stage fixture in Cairo on January 18 and they will finish top of their group if they avoid defeat.
