Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Lebitso has spoken out on facing stiff competition in the right-back position at Sea Robbers as the club is competing to lift the Betway Premiership title.
Pirates have assembled a strong squad at the start of the season after signing a handful of big-name players in a bid to compete for trophies. The Soweto giants welcomed players such as Oswin Appollis, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Sihle Nduli, and Sipho Mbule, among many others.
Pirates’ impressive work in the transfer market has already yielded results with the club competing for major domestic trophies. The Buccaneers have won the MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies earlier in the season, signalling their intentions to dominate the PSL. Pirates have also roped in head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who has quickly turned the team into one of the most competitive sides in South African football.
Under the Moroccan mentor, Pirates are playing an enterprising brand of football, which saw them recently thrashing TS Galaxy 6-0 in the Betway Premiership last weekend at Mbombela Stadium.
‘THE LEAGUE IS A MARATHON, AND WE NEED EVERYONE’-LEBITSO
Meanwhile, Pirates are fighting to win the elusive league title and dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns, who have clinched the trophy for eight consecutive seasons.
The Ghosts also have fierce competition for places in their starting line-up as they acquired quality players in every position. One of the tightly contested positions is in the right back position, with Lebitso competing with Kamogelo Sebelebele, Deano Van Rooyen, and Bandile Shandu.
The 34-year-old has shared his thoughts on the competition, stating that playing for Pirates is about supporting one another to win the league and other trophies. Lebitso has registered 14 appearances across all competitions this season at Bucs and chipped in with one assist.
“I don’t think viewing it [competition] on who can take your position, playing for Orlando Pirates, is about working together,” Lebitso said. “So, we want to win the trophies, we want to win the league, as I said, the league is a marathon, and we need everyone, it’s not about who plays or not playing. Whenever you get a chance to play, you take it wholeheartedly, and if you’re not playing, you wait for your chance.”
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