Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa’s game-time this season may be limited following the return from injury of Olisah Ndah, but he says whenever coach Jose Riveiro plays him he will use it to his advantage.
Mthethwa watched the MTN8 final in the stands as Pirates beat Mamelodi Sundowns on post match penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Ndah made his first appearance following 10 months on the sidelines.
Ndah did not show signs of rustiness – snuffing out the danger from Sundowns, who came back very strongly in the second half but stood tall at the back.
This has made Mthethwa’s playing time set to be hard to come by as Pirates rely on Thapelo Xoki at the back and can call upon captain Innocent Maela to cover at the centre half.
“The competition, for me, is to help the club so that whenever I get a chance I make sure that I help,” said Mthethwa.
“It’s not always about you, but the club. When you don’t play you have to support the guys that are inside (playing) so that when you get the chance to play also make sure that they support you.
“A team like Pirates will always have competition because they sign good players – players that will help and win titles.”
To make matters worse, game time truly appears set to be little for Mthwethwa since Pirates crashed out in the CAF Champions League second preliminary rounds to Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy. He had featured twice in four matches in that competition and once in the MTN8 but nothing yet in the league.
Mthethwa, when called upon, showed up last season, including scoring a winner when Pirates beat Chiefs 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup semi final.
“But to be at Orlando Pirates, it is something I always wanted to be part of,” said Mthethwa when asked about many loan spells and scoring that winning goal in the Ke Yona Cup in the Soweto Derby.
“Those loans helped me a lot and I would say I accepted the loans. I was happy to be part of the family and help the club to win trophies last season.”
