SUPERSPORT United captain Thulani ‘Tyson’ Hlatshwayo has weighed in on the hostility he and his charges can expect ahead of his return to the Orlando Stadium.
The 34-year-old defender spent two seasons with the Buccaneers before departing for Matsatsantsa in the 2022/23 season in search of more game-time.
Hlatshwayo’s exit from Pirates carried various ‘sticky’ points, which meant he would be handed dreadful treatment on the several times he played against the club.
The first task for the adrenaline-driven defender is to help his SuperSport side navigate what is expected to be a daunting MTN8 task against Pirates on Saturday (6pm kick-off).
The two teams clash at Orlando in the quarter-finals of the lucrative competition, where the prize money recently increased to R10 million.
Hlatshwayo spoke at the launch of the competition in Johannesburg yesterday, and admitted that he would need to help his teammates mentally prepare to play Pirates, especially because they haven’t reached their peak in terms of physical fitness.
He added that Pirates’ back-to-back MTN8 titles mean they’ll want to do it again, which will make SuperSport’s task a bit more difficult.
“It’s the first game of the season. As much as it’s a cup game, we can’t really say that we’re up there (in terms of fitness) just based on the friendly games we played,” he said.
“For us as senior players, it’s to remind the guys to not be intimidated.
“Pirates won this cup and they’ll try to defend it again, and we know the environment we’re going to find ourselves in there.”
The #MTN8 launch took place earlier today 🏆🔵
— SuperSport United FC (@SuperSportFC) July 31, 2024
Matsatsantsa will take on The Buccaneers this Saturday at Orlando Stadium, 18:00 🔥🔵#MatsatsantsaUnified pic.twitter.com/qNW99yoW9n
Hlatshwayo and Co welcomed the experienced and tricky Vincent Pule to their ranks a few weeks ago following his departure from Pirates at the end of last season.
Having spent six years at Pirates, ‘Tyson’ expects the occasion to be slightly emotional for the 32-year-old attacker, and revealed what he had done to help him focus.
“I was speaking to Pule about it as well, for him to not have it in his head a lot because I’ve been in his position. Going into that field, there obviously will be emotions because he was once a player there,” he said.
“We just can’t let the intimidation get into our heads because they will be swearing at him and saying things to him, but he just needs to do what he’s there to do.”
Along with Pule, Matsatsantsa have also captured the signatures of Nyiko Mobbie (29) and Pogiso Sanoka (32), and Hlatshwayo is confident of their contribution in the change-room.
“I think this season we have a bit of balance because even coach Gavin (Hunt) joked about the fact that he was coaching a kindergarten team last season,” he said.
“Also, those youngsters were playing their first season, and I hope they carry that experience going into this season.”