Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates defender Nkosinathi Sibisi attributes his smooth transition to life with the Sea Robbers to a combination of hard effort and “excellent working connections.”
During the offseason, the 27-year-old transferred from Golden Arrows to Pirates and has swiftly established himself as a key member of Jose Riveiro’s squad.
Sibisi most recently starred for Pirates in their 3-0 victory over Sundowns in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final last weekend. He made many crucial interceptions and clearances as his team eliminated the defending winners from the competition.
“It was a seamless adjustment. I did not anticipate it to be this effortless. I’m delighted that my efforts have finally paid off. We share a mutual understanding and fraternity. It makes no difference who is playing. Sibisi stated, “We have created wonderful working ties, and I am confident that our brotherhood will continue to grow stronger.”
The Pirates have two impending important games. On Saturday afternoon, they face their fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby at the Orlando Stadium. In two weeks, they will meet AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the MTN8 final, a game in which Sibisi has a high chance of starting.
While he has produced strong performances for Pirates thus far, he confesses that he has experienced a “culture shock” at his new team, where expectations are higher than at his previous club, Arrows.
“There is pressure from everyone. If you are affiliated with pirates, everything you do and touch turns to gold. For me, this is the cultural shock. Every game requires you to win and perform at your highest level.
The Pirates’ rebuild under Riveiro appears to have gotten off to a promising start as they are playing more organised football than they did for the whole of last season. However, Sibisi is insistent that his team should not “get too far ahead of themselves” because they still have a great deal of work to do.
“We will focus on one game at a time. We are in the midst of a procedure and should not anticipate too much. What transpired over the prior weekend and what is occurring currently are polar opposites. The victory against Sundowns will not make us arrogant. It is now no longer relevant. We must maintain consistency in the league if we want to contend for the championship, said Sibisi.