Thalente Mbatha was barely used at SuperSport United but has been a revelation since joining Orlando Pirates, writes Mazola Molefe.
SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is being served humble pie at the moment for ignoring the talent that was right under his nose.
His poison, to paraphrase from the old adage, has turned into someone else’s delicious delicacy – and that’s midfielder Thalente Mbatha, who kicked his heels in the stands while with the Tshwane outfit before moving on loan to Orlando Pirates in January last year.
What a revelation. Mbatha only made five appearances under Hunt in all competitions that included the CAF Confederation Cup, but the majority of the time he was a spectator in the SuperSport squad prior to leaving for Soweto.
“It was a dream come true to sign for Pirates because I didn’t believe it at first until they called again,” said the player, explaining that he had received a message to report for training at his new club out of the blue.
“The second call, I didn’t answer until I was next to my mother. I feel like it is a dream come true to be playing for Pirates. I am hoping to get as much game time as I can because I will be a better player with game time and build my confidence. But I hope to make the deal permanent because Pirates is a big institution.”
Mbatha went on to get his wish, as the Buccaneers agreed to a deal with SuperSport to buy the midfielder outright after impressing coach Jose Riveiro – helping the club finish runners-up behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns and win the Nedbank Cup in fine style at the Mbombela Stadium in May.
What followed was a career that has been on the fast lane for the 24-yearold, who has now forced his way into the Bafana Bafana squad with coach Hugo Broos equally surprised at finding another quality player to add to his playing personnel.
Mbatha scored on debut for the national team in the 2–2 draw against Uganda at a venue he is all too familiar with when it looked as though the visitors would upset South Africa in the opening group fixture of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for next year’s tournament in Morocco.
In almost identical fashion, Mbatha scored the winning goal a few days later – at an away match against South Sudan – to make sure Bafana returned home with all three points to give themselves a fighting chance.
The midfielder again could not believe his meteoric rise.
“The one thing I can say is hard work beats talent. If you work hard, it is going to pay off. You might have the talent but if you don’t work hard some things will lack here and there. But if you match talent with hard work, then I believe that you are going to get somewhere,” he said.
Mbatha does not hold any ill-feelings towards Hunt, especially because his move to Pirates appeared to all be about timing.
“I feel like I was lacking a bit of enthusiasm. That’s what he said to me – and to press more. I just got a contract at Pirates, so I think everything I’m doing it for Pirates, and they are the ones that will decide what will happen in the near future,” concluded the player.
