On Saturday afternoon, Orlando Pirates attacker Vincent Pule will walk onto the pitch at FNB Stadium, soaking in the Soweto Derby atmosphere for the very first time as a player.
However, it could have been all so different for the Bafana Bafana star, who was heavily touted to be donning the famous Kaizer Chiefs jersey only a few months ago.
Nonetheless, after settling in well at the Sea Robbers, where he has become one of the first names on head coach Milutin Sredojevic’s team sheet, the 26-year-old is not too bothered about what could have been.
Pule is rather firmly focused on representing Pirates and ensuring that his first taste of the Soweto Derby is a positive one for Bucs.
“For me the focus is on Orlando Pirates,” Pule told the media.
“The focus is on the team. As the team, we just want to see the team playing good football and doing well,” he added.
“The focus is on the Derby. As a young kid you dream of playing in the Derby and I just want to see Orlando Pirates doing well,” Pule downplayed any talk of sentiment ahead of the game.
Meanwhile, Pule was most recently on the scoresheet as he scored the winning goal that booked Pirates’ place in the next round of the Telkom Knockout.
This is something that fans have become accustomed to seeing from Pule as he has already netted four goals in all competitions and was most recently crowned the club’s Player of the Month for September. But Pule is not getting carried away and maintains that his overall ambition is to help the Soweto giants.
“Personally, I don’t have a target. I just want to see the team doing well. Bringing back the olden days where we used to win a lot of trophies,” he explained.
“But you always have to be happy when scoring goals, it’s something special,” he concluded.
