50 and counting, Sniper!

Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa reached a personal milestone with his well-taken header goal in the team’s 2-0 win against TS Galaxy at Orlando Stadium two weeks ago.

- VeeJay

Affectionately known as “Sniper”, the former Bloemfontein Celtic frontman found the back of the net for the 50th time in Bucs' colours when he beat Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Eliezer Tapé from a Deon Hotto's well-timed and weighted cross in the 94th minute of the exciting league clash.

That winning goal puts Mabasa just eight goals shy of equalling Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi’s all-time Pirates scoring record—a milestone set by “Little Napoleon” almost two decades ago.

Speaking to Soccer Laduma before the start of the season, Mabasa said when quizzed about chasing Vilakazi’s record, “I'm not really (focusing on the record), obviously with the help of my teammates and the technical team, they have managed to let me not see it that way. You know, instead they encourage me to enjoy every moment that I am on the field. ‘If a goal comes, it will come and we'll celebrate it. That’s what we want for you, we want you to score goals but, at the same time, don’t put yourself under a lot of pressure. Just do well for the team, perform well for the team and the goals will flow for you.’ So that’s the point where I am at, this season, taking each game as it comes. Ja, it is something that would be great to achieve and something that I would like to do before the end of the season, obviously with the help and support of my teammates.”