Try GOLD - Free
New coach Ouaddou leads Pirates as Mbatha sets personal targets
Sunday Tribune
|July 27, 2025
ORLANDO Pirates’ midfielder Thalente Mbatha says he should be mentally strong and focused next season if he’s to achieve the targets he’s set for himself.
Since arriving at Pirates 18 months ago, Mbatha has embodied his name - showcasing his talent and endearing himself to the football fraternity.
His skillset was also honed by coach Jose Riveiro who's since left the club and joined Egyptian Al Ahly club.
New coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has also rolled his sleeves and quickly got to work as he led the team when they intensified their preparations for next season with a two-week tour of Spain.
Pirates needed the tour as they must be at their best next season and compete for all trophies up for grabs, including the Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League.
Mbatha, moreover, has to be at his best in club football to ensure that he makes Bafana Bafana final squad that will compete at Afcon in Morocco later in the year.
“For me, personally, it’s going to be a very interesting year. It’s not going to be easy,” Mbatha explained. “So, it’s something that I should be prepared for mentally.
This story is from the July 27, 2025 edition of Sunday Tribune.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Sunday Tribune
Sunday Tribune
New Year, New You: strategies to make your resolutions stick
AH, THE magic of New Year's resolutions.
3 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
South Africa and Nigeria's rivalry: a call for self-reflection
SOUTH Africa's longstanding rivalry with Nigeria now plays out as much online as it does on the sports field, with citizens of both nations often trading barbs over even the pettiest of issues.
1 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
Chelsea interim boss McFarlane braces for Man City clash
CHELSEA interim boss Calum McFarlane was officially introduced to the squad on Friday after a \"crazy 24 hours\" following Enzo Maresca's exit, with Manchester City looming.
3 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
Bafana ready to reset against Cameroon
BAFANA Bafana midfielder Sphephelo
2 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
Key Sundowns players under the spotlight as Premiership return looms
THE 2025/26 Betway Premiership is shaping up to be one of the most compelling seasons in recent memory.
2 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
The post-apartheid crisis of ideas
\"AFRICA'S problem is not that it is traditional; it is that it has failed to modernise its traditions.\"
4 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
International and national political dynamics that shaped SA in 2025
THIS year will go down as one that offered fascinating developments for South Africa from a geopolitical perspective but also tested the balance of power in the country's political systems.
6 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
Dramatic Pead try after the hooter sinks Sharks in thriller at the Tank
JP Pietersen’s dream start to life as Sharks head coach came to end in dramatic fashion at Kings Park yesterday afternoon, when a try after the hooter by Junior Springbok scrumhalf star Haashim Pead secured the visitors a narrow 23-22 United Rugby Championship victory.
2 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
World Cup 'deserving' Linde reckons MI Cape Town can bounce back
ALL-ROUNDER George Linde feels he deserves his spot in the Proteas World Cup squad, and believes his MI Cape Town teammates can bounce back after winless record four matches into the new SA20 season.
2 mins
January 04, 2026
Sunday Tribune
Historic clash: Bafana v Cameroon
SOUTH Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Cameroon's Indomitable Lions will face off in the CAF 2025 Round of 16, rekindling a historic rivalry.
2 mins
January 04, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size