Tshegofatso Mabasa Drops Bombshell Ambition for Golden Boot & League Title!

Orlando Pirates forward Tshegofatso Mabasa has made a bold declaration about his ambitions for the remainder of the season, setting his sights on finishing as the Betway Premiership’s top scorer for the second consecutive year.

Aiming for the Golden Boot

Despite occasional inconsistencies, the 28-year-old striker has had standout moments, netting two hat-tricks—one in an 8-1 demolition of Marumo Gallants in December and another in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 against Baroka FC.

Mabasa has registered 13 goals and one assist in 34 appearances across all competitions. In the league, he currently has five goals but is aiming to surpass Mamelodi Sundowns' Lucas Ribeiro, who leads the scoring charts with 13.

“I see myself finishing first. My target is 18 goals, and I believe I’ll achieve it by the end of the season,” Mabasa confidently stated during a press conference at Rand Stadium.

Tactical Insights & Motivation

Mabasa is basing his goal-scoring target on his observations throughout the campaign.

“It’s about the chances I’ve received, how defenders react when I’m on the pitch, and statistical analysis of my performances,” he explained.

Pirates Eyeing Premiership Glory

Orlando Pirates sit second in the Betway Premiership standings with 40 points, trailing Sundowns by 18 points. With four games in hand, a victory against the log leaders at FNB Stadium on Sunday could cut the gap to 15 points, with further reduction possible if they win their rescheduled matches.

Winning the league title would be a historic achievement, according to Mabasa.

“We’ve already created history, but this would cement our legacy as players,” he said.

Recognizing League Competition

Mabasa also acknowledged the high level of competition in the league.

“There’s a lot of quality in this league—players like Yanela Mbuthuma at Richards Bay & Shaun Mogaila at Sekhukhune United. But mentality makes the difference.”