OPINION – Pirates’ Mabasa is staking his Bafana claim

It’s become a familiar and most welcome pose for Orlando Pirates supporters – Tshegofatso Mabasa, arms outstretched in front of the Ghost, celebrating another goal.

The 27 year-old was at it again in Cape Town on Wednesday, netting a brace as the Buccaneers finally won at Cape Town City and kept up the pace in their pursuit of a place in next season’s Caf Champions League.

Mabasa has been superb since rejoining the Buccaneers this year, recalled by Pirates from a loan spell at Moroka Swallows.

Evidence Makgopa was the main man in attack for Pirates before the Christmas break. The 23 year-old was excellent for Bafana Bafana too, leading the line with aplomb in helping Hugo Broos’ side to a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.

An injury, however, has kept Makgopa out since the beginning of March. In his absence, Mabasa has thrived, scoring ten times in 12 appearances in all competitions, including a first ever top flight hat trick in a 7-1 hammering of Golden Arrows.

Mabasa or Makgopa?

Could it be that it is Mabasa who gets the nod from Hugo Broos, when the Belgian selects his squad for next month’s 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe?

He is certainly very much in the race for the Golden Boot with another Bafana player, joining Iqraam Rayners with 13 top flight goals this season after his brace against City.

Mabasa does have previous with Broos, and not in a good way, taking him off after just 35 minutes of a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in October 2021. But maybe he has done enough to grab the Belgian’s attention once more.

Makgopa eventually replaced Mabasa against City, making his return from injury. No doubt he will hope to prove his own readiness for Bafana in the last few games of the season, as well as helping Pirates, along with Mabasa, in their pursuit of the Nedbank Cup and second place in the DStv Premiership.

Whatever Broos decides to do, Jose Riveiro has an embarrassment of riches in attack, that should stand Pirates in good stead heading into the final weeks of the campaign.