Tshegofatso Mabasa breaks silence on lack of game time under Abdeslam Ouaddou as Orlando Pirates target Stellenbosch in MTN8 final - 'I understood that it wasn’t my time yet'

Tshegofatso Mabasa is struggling for playing minutes under Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

The Moroccan arrived at Pirates to find Mabasa as the club's top goal-scorer in the last two seasons but is not giving the 28-year-old much playing time.

Mabasa has broken his silence on his struggles at the Soweto giants this term. 

"Personally, what was going through my mind is just to keep on working hard and keep on improving," said Mabasa as per KickOff.
"Each and every day that I step onto the field, I want to improve, especially in training. With the meetings that I had with the coach, I understood that it wasn’t my time yet.
"Maybe the guys that are playing ahead of me... Radiopane, for example, deserved this chance with the way that he expressed himself in training, you know, and all the way from the pre-season," added the Free State-born star.
"Same with Evidence [Makgopa]. Whoever is there [playing] deserves to be there. It was them who were chosen, and we knew that they were capable of doing the job."  

Mabasa has featured in three Premier Soccer League matches and once in the MTN8 this season, while starting just one game and making an assist.

He is in an almost similar situation as Evidence Makgopa who has made six appearances across all competitions and missed three games.

Mabasa and Makgopa are being sidelined despite no Pirates striker managing to score in the PSL this eason.

The Buccaneers are preparing for Saturday's MTN8 final against Stellenbosch at Mbombela Stadium.

It is to be seen if Ouaddou will opt to start Mabasa who has previously proved to thrive in big matches.