Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro said Tshegofatso Mabasa is on fire because he has been given a platform to shine, which has resulted in him scoring goals at a crucial time of the season. 

Mabasa racked up a hat-trick as Pirates demolished Golden Arrows 7-1 in the DStv Premiership match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night. 

As a result of the demolishing job, Pirates leapfrogged to third place, right in the hunt for a CAF club spot for next season, with 37 points after 23 matches.  

However, they are far behind perennial log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who are on 49 points with four games in hand.  

The league title, to be sewn by Sundowns, is just a matter of time as they appear to have no challengers now. 

The youthful side of Stellenbosch is punching above their weight, but they can only do so much and nothing more, lying second in the table with 39 points after 22 matches.  

“Like any other player, I mean, confidence and continuity, are key to perform. Sometimes we are not fair when we give one game in isolation to one player, it is not going, to tell the truth about the player,” said Riveiro, whose side was expected to put much of a title fight this season.  

“The moment, if you are playing regularly, it means that the confidence is on you and the football form usually comes with competition. If we speak about a position like Tshego’s, which is almost like a specialist – even though the role of the striker (is to score goals), the goalkeeper is much bigger than before – they must contribute and do a lot of things.”  

Those three goals scored by Mabasa took him to the top of the scoring charts in the league, leveled with Sundowns forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa on 10 goals apiece. 

Mabasa will have a chance to increase his scoring charts, not in the league this coming weekend against AmaZulu, but in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final in Durban, where he has also scored three goals for the Soweto giants in the Ke Yona Cup.

Picture credit: Twitter