Mabokgwane: I can be Pirates’ No 1

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Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane insists that he is ready to make amends for past errors as he looks to don the No 1 jersey ahead of the 2017-18 season.

The Soweto giants endured their worst-ever season in the PSL era, missing out a top-eight spot as they finished the season in 11th spot – a massive 27 points behind champions Bidvest Wits.

A large part of the Mayfair-based outfit’s failure to collect maximum points during the 2016-17 campaign came as a result of a number of errors committed by their goalkeepers, and Mabokgwane has cited the pressure of playing for Pirates as the reason.

‘I’ve been at smaller teams where there is not too much pressure,’ he told the Sowetan. ‘You can make a mistake and it’s forgotten, but at a big club you need to make sure that you don’t make silly mistakes.

‘You have to be on top of your game all the time. It’s not been discouraging for me – it’s a lesson because had I not come to Pirates, I would probably have been still in my comfort zone.’

Mabokgwane is in competition with fellow goalkeepers Emmanuel Daniel, Brighton Mhlongo and Siyabonga Mpontshane for a starting berth, and when quizzed about his performance during the last campaign, the former Mamelodi Sundowns man admitted that he was inconsistent in his exploits.

‘Personally, I think my performance was good, and when it was bad, it was terrible. I must learn from my mistakes. My performances were good in [some of] the games I played.

‘I have to be consistent, that’s the only thing I lacked. I’m definitely ready to take over the No 1 jersey,’ he concluded.

Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/Backpagepix