Mbuyane seeks more final delight
Orlando Pirates striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane scored two goals in the last cup final that The Buccaneers played against Black Leopards in the Nedbank Cup decider in May.
Now he says he wants to write his name in the history books again by helping the reignin MTN8 champions retain their title against Kaizer Chiefs in the final at Soccer City on Saturday night.
How is the camp looking ahead of the MTN8 final?
Everyone is looking forward to the game with a mixture of nerves and excitement, it is a huge occasion in South Africa football. Fortunately our injury problems have improved with Moeneeb [Josephs], Daine [Klate] and Tlou [Segolela] all looking like they will be fit. It is the kind of game you must want to play in as a player because you get the chance to write your name in the history books.
And you personally?
I am good, I am looking forward to the game and hope I get to play a part in it. Playing in matches like this helps you grow as a player and that is something I am always trying to do. I just can’t wait to be on the field, I want the game to come now!
You scored twice in the last cup final you played in, the Nedbank Cup decider against Black Leopards in May …
Yes, and I was really happy with that because people always remember the goalscorers in these games, not necessarily those who just played in the game. I want to be remembered as a good player for Orlando Pirates and the best way for me to do that is to help the team win trophies and to score in the big games. My job in the side it to score and create goals and so when I do, it gives me confidence and tells me I deserve to play for this team and at this level.
What sort of game do you think it will be on Saturday?
I think it will be tight, we have played them a lot recently and there has not been that much between the sides. Obviously we have bad memories of the Telkom Knockout final last year when we lost [0-3] and we just could not get going that day. We have to make sure we keep it tight this time round and it is the kind of game where the side that takes that one small half-chance might be the one to win it. Sometimes these games are won on a piece of brilliance or a mistake. Hopefully it will be an entertaining game but the ultimate aim is to win.
Does it make it a bigger occasion because you are playing Kaizer Chiefs?
Probably, but I don’t think we want to win more because it is Chiefs. If you are playing Chiefs or Black Leopards, you want to win, simple. Maybe the game gets more media attention because it is against Chiefs but … we just want to lift the trophy. Having said that, anytime we play Chiefs it is like a ‘final’, these are games you cannot lose …
And you have scored some crucial goals against Chiefs before, not least the last-minute equaliser in the second League encounter last season that ultimately won Pirates the League title …
I have scored goals against Kaizer Chiefs and I have created goals against them too. It gives me huge satisfaction because Pirates as a club has been very good to me and my family and I feel like I owe them a lot. I am not here just to get a salary, I want to bring success to this team, to make every Buccaneer out there happy. That is what drives me and the best way to do that is to score against Chiefs. But I must add that I am motivated for every game that I play for Pirates, no matter who it is again, I always give my best.
You play Chiefs in the MTN8 final on Saturday and then meet them again a week later in the League. Has that played on the players’ minds?
It is strange because there was the same scenario ahead of the Telkom Knockout final last year. We played Chiefs in the League and then a week or so later played them again in the cup final. But we are only thinking of Saturday, we must win this game first and then we can think about the next game after that.