Despite spending a chunk of the season on loan at Bloemfontein Celtic, defender Justice Chabalala says he wants to go back to Orlando Pirates to emulate Lucky Lekgwathi’s trophy haul.

The 28-year-old player’s loan deal at Celtic was recently extended by two months following an agreement between the two clubs, with the current season expected to resume soon following the suspension of the league due to Covid-19.

Chabalala has failed to establish himself as a regular in recent seasons while Milutin Sredojevic was at the club, but remained a fan favourite and was even voted into the Carling Black Label Cup team at the start of the season.

However, lack of game time had him make the loan switch to Celtic but this has not stopped the central defender from aiming to emulate Pirates great Lekgwathi, who won eight major trophies during his 14-year spell with the Soweto giants before he retired at the age of 40 in 2016.

‘I want to reach greater heights in my career like Lekgwathi. I want to win trophies like he did at Pirates. He was always disciplined on and off the pitch leading by example, that is why he had a successful career,’ Chabalala told the Daily Sun.

‘I haven’t reached my peak because I don’t even have a trophy, except for the Black Label Cup. I hope to win the Nedbank Cup [Celtic beat TS Sporting to reach the semi-final stage]. I haven’t done anything in my career, that’s why I am so hungry.

‘To be honest, I don’t know what will happen at the end of the season. I still have another year on my contract with Pirates. But I am happy that I am getting more game time at Celtic. I deserve this chance since I have always worked hard,’ he added.

‘Whatever decision Pirates take, I don’t have a problem as long as I will enjoy playing football. I am enjoying myself at the moment as we have players like Lucky Baloyi and Jackson Mabokgwane, who also played with me at Pirates,’ he concluded.