Orlando Pirates defender Tapelo Xoki has revealed the trophy he most wants to win with the club.
The highly rated Xoki joined Pirates from AmaZulu ahead of the 2022/23 season in a swap deal that saw Gabadinho Mhango go in the opposite direction.
The Khayelitsha-born centre-back has since featured in five DStv Premiership matches in Pirates colours, forming part of the club’s solid backline that has only conceded three goals in seven games.
Seemingly settling well at the Soweto giants under Spanish coach José Riveiro, the former Usuthu captain, Xoki has expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of the Buccaneers’ class of 1995 and win the prestigious CAF Champions League title.
“There’s so much the club has achieved before my arrival, so I can’t say I want to achieve something that the club hasn’t achieved,” Xoki told the club’s media department.
“It will mean a lot to add a second star and be in a group that is regarded amongst the greats. Because even now, people still talk about the 1995 squad that won the Champions League.
“And I believe with the squad we have two, three seasons, that’s possible,” he added.
CAN PIRATES DETHRONE SUNDOWNS?
Furthermore, the 25-year-old says he wants to help the Buccaneers stop the dominance of Mamelodi Sundowns and dethrone them in the league title chase.
“We have to win the league; we have to stop the dominance of Sundowns to get to the Champions League,” declared Xoki.
“If we can be the group that gets to be remembered as the group that stopped the dominance of the current champions, that will mean a lot.”
The Soweto giants missed out on the opportunity to return to the summit of the DStv Premiership table as they suffered a defeat to Maritzburg United in their most recent league at Harry Gwala Stadium.
Riveiro’s side will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they face TS Galaxy, who have had a splendid start to the new campaign.
The two teams lock horns at Orlando Stadium on Saturday in a fight for maximum points.
