Chippa United defender Justice Chabalala has made an honest admission about his former employers, PSL giants Orlando Pirates.
Chabalala linked up with the Soweto giants in the 2016/17 campaign coming from now-defunct Free State Stars. All-in-all, he managed to make 20 appearances in all competitions for the club.
He left Pirates permanently ahead of the 2022/23 season to Chippa on a free transfer as the defender struggled for game time.
During his tenure with the Sea Robbers, the centre-back was sent out on loan a few times. Previously, the 32-year-old played for teams like now-defunct Bloemfontein Celtic and Sekhukhune United.
CHABALALA CREDITS ORLANDO PIRATES FOR POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON HIS CAREER
Despite leaving the club on a few occasions going on loan, Chabalala says he enjoyed his time at Pirates. In addition, the experienced defender says he had a fair chance in terms of getting an opportunity to prove himself.
Chabalala credits the club for shaping him into a player that he is today.
“To be honest, I got my opportunity at Orlando Pirates,” Chabalala told FARPost. “I remember I got the Man of the Match two times.
“I think I did my best at the club, coaches are not the same, and Orlando Pirates is a good team they treat you like you’re overseas.
“There is nothing wrong about the team and they treated me very well. I’m Justice Chabalala because of Orlando Pirates. I think I got a lot of opportunities playing under coach Muhsin Ertugral and coach Micho [Milutin Sredojević].
“Coaches are not the same; you cannot blame the coaches if you are not playing. But I know some of the players blame the coaches if they are not playing. As a player, you should work hard.
“But I won’t say the coaches didn’t give me a chance to play to show them who I am and like I’m playing now at Chippa United.”
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