Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Sesane has praised Rulani Mokwena‘s assistant Sinethemba Badela for shaping his career.
The 24-year-old defender has been in exceptional form for his club this season. With Thapelo Xoki and Olisah Ndah injured, the young centre-back has impressed keeping a number of cleansheets this season. The Orlando Pirates star said Mokwena’s assistant at Wydad Casablanca belived in him and also brought back his confidence.
“He has known me from the days the team was still based in Cape Town and from my days in kasi [township] football while I was at Pirates,” Sesane told iDiski Times.
“He wanted me to come play for Black Poison but when Pirates found out we were playing in the kasi tournament, they called a meeting and warned us not to play there. We were disciplined so that’s where my relationship with coach Themba started.
Orlando Pirates defender thankful for Rulani’s assistant Themba
“When I got to All Stars, I mean even when I think about that team now, if it was still around, I think it would have revived a lot of players. I felt at home when I got there. He also told me that the management didn’t want him to play me at centre-back because I was short and had a small body frame. But he said none of that counts. He was going to play me in that position,” Sesane said.
The Orlando Pirates star said he kept a clean sheet in his first game against Polokwane Rovers.
“He called me to the side and he told me how proud he was of me and even the management as well. That’s why I’m saying when I think about All Stars, I want to cry.”
“He is so proud of me. I didn’t just take him as my coach, he was like my father. I always tell him how grateful I am because he found me when my confidence was at a low and he brought it back. The team being sold hurt me and other guys that I played with there,” said the Orlando Pirates star.
How good has Sesane been this season?
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