Title race heat no concern as Andre De Jong talks up Pirates mentality

The Buccaneers host bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, chasing crucial points in their Betway Premiership title race with Mamelodi Sundowns and aiming to complete a league double over Amakhosi.

De Jong, signed in January to add firepower upfront, says what he has seen so far gives him confidence the team can handle the pressure in the decisive weeks ahead.

"I think obviously we've got a very experienced dressing room and a lot of young players as well. There's a lot of vibrant faces and energy in the dressing room, which has really been nice to be involved in during the back half of this season. Obviously, joining in January, I am now starting to get the dynamic of the dressing room," said De Jong.

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"Knowing who the senior players are and the voices that speak up in tough times or keep everyone going in the good times. But I think we're on a really good run of form at the moment, really positive from everyone."

"So I think when you're winning games convincingly,  it's really easy to be positive. We're going into this derby with a lot of confidence. Yeah, I think we are a team that can handle the big pressure moments quite well, and hopefully, we can do that again on Sunday."

Despite that assurance, however, De Jong did point out that no PSL side should ever be taken lightly…most of all Chiefs in a Soweto Derby.

Asked about his personal journey at Pirates so far and still hoping to make a Soweto Derby appearance, De Jong said he was getting there slowly.

The 29-year-old Kiwi has two ambitions over the next few weeks: to debut in the Soweto Derby and hopefully make the squad to represent New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup at the end of the season.