Pirates Star Reflects On PSL Award Nominations & World Cup Debut
Orlando Pirates defender Kamogelo Sebelebele has reflected on an unforgettable debut season that earned him two Premier Soccer League award nominations while also fulfilling his dream of representing South Africa at the FIFA World Cup.
Sebelebele enjoyed a remarkable first campaign with the Buccaneers after joining the club from TS Galaxy at the start of last season. The 23-year-old quickly established himself as one of Pirates’ standout performers, announcing his arrival in spectacular fashion during the MTN8.
The wing-back scored in both legs of the MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, playing a key role in helping Pirates reach the final, where they went on to lift the trophy.
Despite suffering an injury after the MTN8 that required surgery, Sebelebele remained determined to return stronger. His resilience paid off as he became one of the club’s most consistent performers, helping the Buccaneers complete a historic domestic treble by winning the MTN8, Betway Premiership and Carling Knockout.
His outstanding performances did not go unnoticed, earning him two Premier Soccer League award nominations. He is in contention for the MTN8 Last Man Standing award alongside teammates Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi, while he has also been nominated for the Players’ Player of the Season award with Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng.
Reflecting on his journey, Sebelebele admitted the season presented significant challenges before ending on a memorable high.
“Obviously, this past season was not easy because after the MTN8 I got injured and had to undergo surgery,” he said.
“But I told myself that I had to come back stronger. I also had a dream of going to AFCON, but unfortunately I was injured.
“So, I made sure I came back stronger and worked even harder so that I could go to the World Cup. It was all by God’s grace that I got the chance to experience that and be part of the people who made history for South Africa.”
Sebelebele’s impressive displays also caught the attention of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who included him in South Africa’s squad for the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. South Africa’s campaign ended in the Round of 32 after a defeat to Canada.
Although Sebelebele did not feature in every match, he believes the tournament was a valuable learning experience and remains grateful for the opportunity to represent his country on football’s biggest stage.
“Playing in the World Cup is something big, even if you only play two minutes,” he added.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to have played the minutes I did. We represented South Africa as a team.
“We supported each other. If you were not playing, you supported those who were because we all had one goal, which was to win the World Cup. Unfortunately, we couldn’t achieve that.”
