Mabasa wants to improve his goal-scoring game as the new season approaches. | OneFootball

Mabasa wants to improve his goal-scoring game as the new season approaches.

Tshegofatso Mabasa approaches the new season with a mature perspective, viewing pressure as fuel rather than fear. The Orlando Pirates striker, coming off a 15-goal campaign, acknowledges his numbers dipped from the previous season's 19-goal haul but remains unfazed by expectations.

"Age teaches you to welcome pressure," Mabasa reflected during the premiere of Pirates' Giants documentary. "Peak performance doesn't exist without it." This mindset shift didn't come easily - the 28-year-old credits his resilience to the unwavering support from teammates and coaches, especially during last season's challenging spell when Evidence Makgopa displaced him in the starting lineup.

What could have been a tense rivalry transformed into brotherhood. "Our striking unit thrives on healthy competition wrapped in mutual support," Mabasa explained, describing post-training finishing drills filled with encouragement. He singled out Makgopa's unexpected mentorship during his benching: "He knew my struggles yet kept motivating me with 'areye ngwana' - that's the spirit I'd return."

This camaraderie shone when Boitumelo Radiopane scored his maiden penalty - the entire squad, Mabasa included, sprinted to celebrate. Such moments, the striker believes, forge the unity driving Pirates' ambitions. approaches the new season with a mature perspective, viewing pressure as fuel rather than fear. The Orlando Pirates striker, coming off a 15-goal campaign, acknowledges his numbers dipped from the previous season's 19-goal haul but remains unfazed by expectations.

"Age teaches you to welcome pressure," Mabasa reflected during the premiere of Pirates' Giants documentary. "Peak performance doesn't exist without it." This mindset shift didn't come easily - the 28-year-old credits his resilience to the unwavering support from teammates and coaches, especially during last season's challenging spell when Evidence Makgopa displaced him in the starting lineup.

What could have been a tense rivalry transformed into brotherhood. "Our striking unit thrives on healthy competition wrapped in mutual support," Mabasa explained, describing post-training finishing drills filled with encouragement. He singled out Makgopa's unexpected mentorship during his benching: "He knew my struggles yet kept motivating me with 'areye ngwana' - that's the spirit I'd return."

This camaraderie shone when Boitumelo Radiopane scored his maiden penalty - the entire squad, Mabasa included, sprinted to celebrate. Such moments, the striker believes, forge the unity driving Pirates' ambitions.