The unexpected phone call that made Thalente Mbatha’s Pirates dream a reality
Thalente Mbatha’s move to his dream team, Orlando Pirates, from his boyhood club SuperSport United wasn’t your typical transfer story.
Facing the media for the first time as a Bucs loanee, Mbatha describes the unbelievable turn of events that landed him at the Soweto giants.
It all started with a phone call while the 23-year-old was enjoying his holidays back home in KwaMashu, a township 12km north of Durban.
Seeing limited action previously with just seven starts in the 2022/23 season, Mbatha earned two starting appearances for Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport in the first half of the current DStv Premiership season. And the veteran coach, Hunt, had made it clear, Mbatha was rough around the edges.
“I feel like I was lacking a bit of enthusiasm; that’s what he [Hunt] said and to press me more,” said Mbatha.
The possibility of joining Pirates seemed so remote at the beginning of December that Mbatha, the eloquent midfielder who went to Sastri College in Durban, wouldn’t have dared to dream of it.
“I was driving home when I got the call from Orlando Pirates saying that they wanted my services. At that moment, I was confused; I didn’t know what it meant, so I was told I was going to move to Pirates by Orlando Pirates,” he added.
He revealed that the call was from Orlando Pirates themselves, expressing their interest in his services. The timing couldn’t have been more unexpected. Pirates were already in training, preparing for the second half of the season, while SuperSport hadn’t begun theirs yet.
“It was a dream come true, actually,” Mbatha said. He needed confirmation, so he rushed home to speak to his mother before heading to Johannesburg.
THALENTE MBATHA DREAMS OF MAKING PIRATES MOVE PERMANENT
“They said I must come to training, as they had opened and SuperSport was not open – so after receiving the call, I went straight to tell my mother that I had to come to Johannesburg because it was short notice. They told me to come the following day, and after that – the [move] happened.
“… I didn’t believe it first up until they called again. The second call, I didn’t answer until I was home – to make sure I was next to my mother. So she was like, are you sure this is Orlando Pirates? Are you sure? I was like, I’m sure…” he added.
With every step, the dream became more real. Mbatha is now laser-focused on securing regular playing time. The SuperSport academy graduate has already featured in two matches for the Buccaneers.
Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, usually reserved in his praise for individuals, has acknowledged Thalente’s talent. “Like everybody else, you think about the names we have in the midfield. The competition is tough because it’s full of quality and experience,” he said.
“Young players like Thalenthe [Mbatha] who want to make their own name in the competition. The boy is a talented player,” said Riveiro.
He believes consistent matches will elevate his game and solidify his place with the prestigious club. His ultimate goal? Turning this dream opportunity into a permanent stay at Orlando Pirates.
“I’m hoping to get as much game time as I can, I’ll be a better player if I get game time, it will build my confidence more and I hope to make the deal permanent because it’s a big institution.”
RELATED STORY: How Patrick Maswanganyi influenced Thalente Mbatha’s move to Pirates