Mbatha puts injury blues behind him ahead of MTN8 final

Mbatha has been out of action since the beginning of the season after he suffered an injury in the early stages of the campaign. 

In his absence, Pirates have brought in Thapelo Mokobodi and Mthetheleli Mthiyane, who have held the fort in coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team. 

Mbatha has been back in full training for a couple of weeks now, with enough training matches to get him match-ready...

"It's been a difficult journey to get back, but the medical team helped me and continue to help me because I have to continue training to get stronger. We've received some preparation matches, and that's where you can gain some much needed fitness and confidence coming back from an injury."

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Mbatha only featured in the opening two games of the season against Durban City and Milford FC. 

With the injuries that have been hampering the national team as well, Mbatha was missed in the Bafana Bafana set-up under new head coach Pitso Mosimane. This game also pits him against his midfield partner at Bafana, Teboho Mokoena, but he provided a calculated answer when addressing this dynamic for obvious reasons...

"I don't focus on the rivals, I focus on my job and Orlando Pirates. If I'm given the opportunity in the final I'll do my best for the team to win another title."

Pirates are going for their record-extending fifth MTN8 title, and they’ve earned the reputation in the last four years as the cup kings. 

However, against the African champions, they are meeting a formidable side with a lot of quality on their side.

Mbatha has also defended Ouaddou’s comments on showboating, and said the coach is not discouraging players from expressing themselves but mainly looking at the primary business of guaranteeing points and results first, like every professional football entity would do.