Orlando Pirates star Thabiso Sesane has opened up about a challenging time in his football career when he almost gave up.
Sesane began his career at Pirates with the reserve team in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC). He impressed and was eventually promoted to the senior team for the 2020/21 season.
In the subsequent two seasons (2021/22 and 2022/23), he was loaned out to play in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. First, he played for Jomo Cosmos, who are now part of the ABC Motsepe League. In the following season, he joined the now-defunct All Stars FC.
Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Sesane returned to Pirates. Initially, he struggled to get playing time but eventually became a regular starter in the team’s lineup.
So far, Sesane has made 22 appearances in all competitions and has helped Orlando Pirates win two titles: last season’s Nedbank Cup and this season’s MTN8.
His consistent performances earned him his first call-up to the Bafana Bafana for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, where he played in back-to-back matches against Congo Brazzaville.
WHEN DID THABISO SESANE ALMOST QUIT PLAYING FOOTBALL
The 24-year-old says he was close to giving up on his playing career when he was sent on loan to Jomo Cosmos. For Sesane, the loan move was a shock, as he had some game time in the 2020/21 season, playing seven games.
At that time, the Sea Robbers had other talented and experienced defenders, including Thulani Hlatshawayo, Happy Jele, Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Sandile Mthethwa, Olisa Ndah, and Kwanda Mngonyama.
“[2021/22] Pre-season in North West, I think I got injured, so when we got to Johannesburg, I got a call from the office. They told me, ‘We’re loaning you out because we don’t think your space is available this season,” Sesane told PiratesTV on BucsCamp.
“I was shocked, I said, ‘Its fine’, then they said, ‘Its Jomo Cosmos’. It was tough though [at Cosmos], I won’t lie, I was always crying. I was calling my mother and telling her I was thinking of leaving this whole thing [playing football].
“To be honest, when I left Jomo Cosmos [at the end of the season], I felt I had already given up. I felt like a loan player, I think I played 15 games at Cosmos.”
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