Lebitso Issues Defiant Title Warning To Sundowns

Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Lebitso insists the Betway Premiership title race is far from over, reminding rivals Mamelodi Sundowns that the campaign is a “marathon” that the Buccaneers will fight until the final whistle.

Pirates entered the international break at the summit of the log, boasting 51 points from 22 matches following a clinical 6-0 demolition of TS Galaxy.

Despite their pole position, many pundits continue to frame the race as Sundowns’ to lose—a narrative Lebitso is quick to dismiss.

The Marathon Mentality

“The league is a marathon; it’s a marathon,” Lebitso emphasized. “We’ve had hiccups here and there, but despite what people are saying, I don’t think [the outside noise] is important. We still have eight games to play. People believe the league is done, but I don’t think it is. After winning 6-0, the perspective of what people see is starting to change.”

The energetic fullback remains adamant that the squad’s focus stays internal. “We push as much as we can and we take the fight until the very end.”

Sidelined but Supportive

While Lebitso was a mainstay early in the season, a frustrating run of injuries has hampered his progress in the second half of the campaign. He has yet to feature in the most recent fixtures, but he remains a vocal leader within the dressing room.

Brushing aside concerns regarding his lack of recent game time, Lebitso highlighted the collective effort required to dethrone the defending champions.

“Playing for Orlando Pirates, it’s vital to support the person currently in the starting XI,” Lebitso stated.

“I started the season as part of that core group, but when you want to win a league, you have to work together. Whoever the coach selects, I need to support them. That unity is what’s important.”