There is no doubting the talent of new Orlando Pirates signing Gilberto, but can he maintain his focus on football? Ask Mazola Molefe.

Orlando Pirates aren’t just getting a good dancer in Angolan winger Deivi Miguel Vieira, otherwise known as Gilberto.

The Buccaneers have secured the services of someone not just considered a footballer in his native country, but also a celebrity.

Gilberto also possesses a goal threat as proven by his numbers for both his now former club Petróleos de Luanda and the national team.

Reports indicated that the Soweto giants paid a hefty fee of around R12 million to get the deal over the line ahead of a few clubs in Europe who were eyeing the attacker on the back of his Africa Cup of Nations display for The Palancas Negras. What can South Africans expect?

“I guess it could be a step forward for Gilberto – a popular figure in Angola, but maybe too comfortable. He needed a challenge,” said his coach Pedro Gonçalves during his visit to South Africa for the COSAFA Cup.

The coach was expecting to have the attacker as part of the squad that eventually went all the way to clinch the continental tournament, but he was only happy to withdraw Gilberto when talks with Pirates had advanced.

Gilberto, 23, needed to be in Johannesburg for a medical as his new club finalised a trip to Spain for pre-season.

“He needs this to grow, personally. There’s no doubt that he is a very good player and has a lot of skills – for sure this signing could be the best this season for Pirates. But it is very important for Gilberto to focus on the work. He is an important player for us as well and if he gets everything right, he could be unstoppable,” added Gonçalves.

The Buccaneers went all out for Gilberto to get him to make the switch from a club that plays regularly in CAF interclub competitions, while the Soweto giants have struggled for some time now to feature consistently.

Gilberto might give them an edge. In 35 matches for Petróleos de Luanda he managed seven goals as well as four assists from a wide position and already has 14 national team cups.

Gonçalves also threw him in the deep end for his first Africa Cup of Nations appearance in Ivory Coast, earlier this year naming Gilberto in the starting line-up against Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Namibia and Nigeria in the quarterfinals.

“He played for a team that won everything at home and even doing well on the international stage, so this will be a big challenge. At his age he needs more,” the coach said.

“We believe Gilberto is a great player with a bright future – only if he focuses, absolutely, on his football. Maybe he loses something by going to a team that hasn’t done very well in CAF competitions, but maybe the Orlando Pirates are preparing a good team to achieve those levels.

“That kind of level pushes everyone and I am sure Pirates wants to achieve that level, which will be important for Gilberto too,” said Gonçalves.