Sometimes, all you need is the right move, and everything falls into place. It's amazing how, just a few months ago, Thalente Mbatha was unable to get into the starting line-up at SuperSport United, but within a short space of time, he has proven to be one of Jose Riveiro's key players in midfield at Orlando Pirates. The 24-year-old made a surprise move to the Buccaneers in January, signing a loan deal until the end of the season. There is an option to make the deal permanent and indications are that the Soweto giants want to keep the midfielder beyond the expiration of the loan agreement. Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane speaks to different individuals, from the one who discovered him to the coach who gave him his professional debut, as well as his agent who discusses the future of the player.
How Mbatha was discovered
Godfrey Mosoetsa (SuperSport United head of recruitment)
"I saw Thalente in the Engine Knockout, which was being played at Tuks (University of Pretoria). I have forgotten the name of the team he was playing for. At the time, he was playing as a centre back. With some players, you can see that they are probably a midfielder and Thalente was not the type of a centre back that would win the ball and just kick it forward. At that age, he was able to build up from the back. He was comfortable on the ball, and he would start a move. We wanted him immediately, but then his team told us that they were going to need him for their senior team. I don't know whether their senior team was playing in the ABC Motsepe League or SAB League but they ended up selling him to Highlands Park. As soon as I heard that Highlands Park was going to get sold, the first player I thought of was Thalente. I said we need to get Thalente, and then we got players from Bidvest Wits like Samkelo Xulu, Mpho Mathebula and Keenan Phillips. I had no doubts about Thalente, even when he got into the first team. At SuperSport, it's easier to get into the first team and play compared to other clubs. You look for a player who would immediately make an impact and be in the line-up. Even though it's in the senior coach's hands, Thalente is one player I felt could get into the line-up. He has always been a talented player, but I think players suit different styles of play. He got to Pirates, and he just fitted like a hand in glove. He is doing well for himself there."
Making his professional debut
Kaitano Tembo (former SuperSport United coach)
"The reason I gave Thalente his debut is because I knew that we might not have Teboho Mokoena for a long time. So, he was a long-term replacement for Teboho Mokoena because he has all the qualities, and he is a very smart player. He is an all-rounder. He has got all the qualities that you look at in a midfielder. He is very good defensively. He is good tactically and technically and he can score goals. He has a very powerful shot. He can shoot from distance, same as a player like Teboho Mokoena. I was not surprised that he went to Pirates, and he is really doing well, and I think he has raised his game.
I am not sure why he has not played much since I left SuperSport, but I felt that he was one of those players who could have taken SuperSport to another level because he is talented. He is a quality player and if anyone had doubted him, they can now see the quality that he has. I think he has settled in at Pirates because the way they play suits him. Like I mentioned, he is a very good technical player and he can play those short and long passes. He can read the game very well. If you go into a set-up like Pirates, they play in a certain way that allows certain players to flourish. You can look at a player like Tito (Patrick Maswanganyi). Look at where he is now at Pirates. It's a set-up that suits him and I think that's the reason he is now coming out of his shell. Thalente Mbatha is also coming out of his shell and I think Pirates would want to keep him when the loan spell ends."
What Bucs supporters want
Hendrick Maoka (Orlando Pirates supporter)
"Actually, we were talking about him that we would rather have him permanently than to recall Goodman Mosele from his loan spell at Chippa United. No offense to Goodman, but Thalente Mbatha is doing so well for us. We attack way better when he plays. I really wish he could be offered a permanent contract because he will be important for us to challenge for the league title next season. Keeping him will definitely be a good idea and it's what most of us wish for right now. I like his ability to initiate attacks and his ability to control the ball, hence I mentioned that we attack better with him."
Pirates will have the final say
Mike Mabaab (Thalente Mbatha's agent)
"His move came as a surprise to us in one way. We were very hopeful that he would break in and become a regular at SuperSport United because he is a young man with enormous talent, excuse the pun. Not only that, he has wonderful physical presence. He is nice and solid, and he is skillful. He is tactically very aware and passes the ball beautifully. He is a top-class all-round footballer who is going to grow from strength to strength. He is a wonderful character and good character. So, it came as a surprise that Pirates expressed their interest, but not as a surprise for any other reason than that he was not playing at SuperSport United. Normally when a player is playing and excelling at a football club, that's when you have interest. In this particular case, and I tip my hat to Orlando Pirates recruitment staff, is that they saw something within the player that fitted what they believe is an Orlando Pirates footballer.
I am not surprised from the fact that I know what he is capable of and I know what his all-round persona is as a professional footballer. The surprise is how quickly he has adjusted at Orlando Pirates and that speaks volumes for his temperament and his ability to make the move to a big football club and thrive under pressure. That's why I believe he has an incredible future in the game. I think this is only the beginning for him. I know that he is a late bloomer, but it would not surprise me to see him go all the way.
In the loan deal, Pirates will have the final say. It's a loan, with an option to exercise a permanent deal. If that happens, all the figures have been pre-agreed, so there is no need for a renegotiation. All the figures have been pre-agreed. It's just up to Pirates now to make a final decision and to exercise their option. I would be very surprised if it did not happen. For him, this is incredible, and he has taken it in his stride. I have always said we have incredible quality in our country. We must not underestimate our talent in this country.
There is nothing wrong with our talent in this country. The most important thing our players have to change is their mindset. The bare minimum is that you work hard, that you are dedicated, disciplined and that you have an enormous appetite for improvement. You need to live a professional lifestyle. That's the bare minimum. If you want to get to the top, you need to take your career so seriously that you live, eat and sleep your career. I urge young footballers to be serious about their careers."
