Unbeaten ‘lucky charm’ Thalente Mbatha ready for Mamelodi Sundowns’ MTN8 final clash

Orlando Pirates may not only be buoyed by hard work or cup pedigree when they face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final, but also by the return of a player whose name carries a meaning he has embraced – and who has become the team’s lucky charm.

Named Thalente by his parents, Mbatha has proven to be truly talented. Since leaving the dusty streets of KwaMashu to play in plush stadiums across the country, Mbatha has become a colossal figure for both Pirates and Bafana Bafana.

His contributions at Pirates haven’t gone unnoticed. Not only did he help the team claim domestic silverware, including the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies last season, but he has also proven to be a lucky charm whenever he starts.

In 32 games that Mbatha has started since arriving at the club in January 2024 from SuperSport United, Pirates have never lost, winning 23 games and drawing nine. But Mbatha is not reading too much into that, choosing to remain humble instead.

“I’ve seen the pictures and everything, but as I said, for me, my job is to do my job for Pirates. So, I don’t go around looking at whether the team loses or anything, because football is about three results,” Mbatha said.

“You win, you draw, you lose. So for me, it’s a matter of doing my job, and if the team continues winning, that means I’m doing my part.”

Mbatha’s humility doesn’t change the fact that Pirates will look to him as an integral figure – and rely on him to help maintain that unbeaten record if he starts in Saturday’s MTN8 clash against Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium following a long lay-off. It is a challenge Mbatha looks set to embrace.

“Ispan’ sam ukushaya ispan (my work is to do the work),” Mbatha said. “So, given the opportunity, I am going to do it again.”

While the possibility of playing in one of the biggest matches of the season excites Mbatha, does he have the match fitness required after his time on the sidelines?

“We have friendlies and preparation matches here, so I believe the technical team know what they are doing,” Mbatha said. “Having these matches, I believe that’s where you gain match fitness and confidence when coming back.

“Coming back from an injury is not easy because sometimes you fear putting in a tackle – it deals with you mentally. So, I believe the preparations help a lot mentally.”

Given that Pirates have won three consecutive MTN8 titles, they are regarded as favourites by many – despite boasting a youthful and new-look squad compared to Sundowns, who haven’t won a domestic cup competition in recent years. Mbatha, however, refutes the favourites tag.

“I don’t think so,” Mbatha said. “I think that we worked hard to get here. There’s no luck in winning finals; it all boils down to the hard work that we put in here at Rand Stadium. We continue working hard, just like today.

“We will continue winning, and I believe that’s something that’s going to play a good part for us going into the final. We are going to play the final to win it. I believe that’s something that we should tell ourselves and pass on to the youngsters.”