Tshegofatso Mabasa delivered a scoring masterclass today, scoring a stunning hat-trick to propel Orlando Pirates to a 3-1 victory over Baroka FC.
The win secures the Buccaneers’ place in the Quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, keeping their hopes of defending their title alive. His performance not only sealed the win but it has also etched the Mabasa name further into the club’s history books.
With his hat-trick, Mabasa has now scored 44 goals for Orlando Pirates, surpassing club legends Phumlani Mkhize and the late Lesley Manyathela, who were tied with him on 41 goals prior to this match. The milestone sees Mabasa move into second place on the club’s all-time scorers list (PSL-era).
Speaking after the match, Mabasa remained humble, emphasising the importance of the team’s success over personal accolades. “I’m happy with today’s performance, and I’m glad to see the team bounce back after
the loss in our previous game,” Mabasa said. “For me, it’s not about personal milestones.
I want to focus on the team’s goals because they are more impactful and meaningful for the club and our fans. We’re all working hard to achieve something special this season.”
The journey to catch legend Benedict Vilakazi is on, but for Mabasa and the Sea Robbers, the focus remains firmly on the next game and the next challenge. The 28-year-old is now just 14 goals away from equalling the Little Napoleon, who sits atop the club’s all-time scorers list with 58 goals.
