Mabasa accepts Pirates scoring record will remain out of reach

Tshegofatso Mabasa says he has no regrets after ending his Orlando Pirates career eight goals short of the club’s all-time scoring record, with Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi’s mark of 58 remaining intact.

The striker had emerged as a serious challenger to the long-standing record during his time with the Soweto giants, but his move to Fes ended his pursuit before he could overtake Vilakazi.

Mabasa reflected on the missed opportunity in an interview with iDiski Times, saying he had accepted that the landmark was not meant to be his.

“As close as I was, at the end of the day, I can plan but God decides, I guess it wasn’t meant to be, he has always had bigger and better plans for me – and I guess I am walking into that period of my life,” he said.

Vilakazi’s total of 58 goals has remained one of the most significant individual benchmarks in Orlando Pirates’ history. Mabasa’s progress had brought him within reach of the former striker’s achievement, but his departure means another player will now have to take up the challenge of breaking the record.

Rather than focusing on the goals he did not score, Mabasa said he was thankful for the opportunity to represent Orlando Pirates and for the achievements he secured during his spell with the club.

“What happened at Pirates I’m grateful for the opportunity obviously and what I managed to achieve at the club, I will always wish them well and I will always be watching and supporting the guys.”

The forward also acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving after spending a significant period of his career at the club. Mabasa said the length of his stay allowed him to form strong relationships within the Orlando Pirates environment, making his departure more complicated than simply moving to a new team.

“Spending so long there, it wasn’t easy at all and you tend to grow bonds in environments when you have been there for a long time, and that’s what happened with me – so I’m truly grateful to every part they played in my career and I believe in this next step step. Mas Fes it is, I have a job to do here and it’s what I will focus on. I was not hurt by it [not breaking the record].”

His comments underline that the failure to surpass Vilakazi’s record has not soured his view of Orlando Pirates or his time at the club. Mabasa instead described the move as the beginning of a new phase and said his priority was now to concentrate on his responsibilities at Fes.

The record therefore remains one of the enduring targets at Orlando Pirates, while Mabasa turns his attention to Morocco and the next stage of his career. He said he would continue to follow and support the players at his former club, even as he begins a new chapter away from the Soweto giants.

Mabasa’s comments come from his reflections on his spell at Orlando Pirates and his move to Fes.