Orlando Pirates star Kabelo Dlamini has been in and out of the team since joining from Bloemfontein Celtic, but there is no denying that he has the talent to become one of the side's most important players. The midfielder, who recently turned 28, returned to the team in the second half of the season after making just five appearances in the first period of the campaign and is enjoying a good run of form. One thing the left-footed player has added to his game is goals and this could work in his favour in terms of featuring consistently and possibly even breaking into the Bafana Bafana squad. Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane spoke to the Daveyton-born lad about his return to the starting line-up and why he has not always been able to be consistent at the Soweto giants. Dlamini also talks about the dominance of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Tshepang Mailwane: In the first half of the season, you played five matches in the DStv Premiership, but in the second half of the campaign, you have played 12 matches. What has changed?
Kabelo Dlamini: To be honest, I did not start well in the first half of the season because I had a lot of injuries. I think that's what stopped me from getting game-time. That's why I played less games compared to the second half of the season. I've been injury-free in the second half of the season. I did a lot of extra work with my personal trainer because I knew I was behind and it's showing now. I felt that I was behind everyone else because they had already played a lot of games. To get back to my best, I had to do a lot of extra work. I am glad it's working. I was strong mentally to tell myself that I could bounce back before the season finishes and try to help the team win the Nedbank Cup and get the second spot for the (CAF) Champions League next season. I am happy that I am back, and I am helping the team. I've helped the team to reach the final and now we are fighting for second spot. If we can reach those goals (winning the Nedbank Cup and finishing second), I would be happy.
TM: What sort of injuries were you struggling with?
KD: It was an ankle and Achilles. I sat out for two months without playing. I went through rehab and returned. I trained with the team and, after two weeks, I got the same injury and I stayed longer. It took me a long time to recover. It was really frustrating because I had a top pre-season with the team in Spain. I am not someone who usually gets injured, so when I got injured, it was a first for me. I was frustrated, but I thank my family for being with me to help me be strong and to return stronger.
TM: Looking at the time you've been at Orlando Pirates, would you say this is the best form you've ever been in since joining the club?
KD: To be honest, I have been playing well (since joining Pirates). It's just that I was lacking goals in my game. I would have good games, but I would not score goals. You know that in South Africa if you don't score goals, people don't always take note of you. Right now, I am having top games with goals and that's why I am getting the recognition. I've added goals to my game. I am someone who believes in extra training. So, I would do shooting with some of my teammates when we are off and, in the township as well. I think that has helped me. To be honest, I don't think I've reached my full potential. I am working on that with the game-time I am getting now. Since I got to Pirates, this is the first time I am playing so many matches consecutively. As a player, you grow when you get game-time. If you are going to play one game and then you are out in the next game, it delays the process and your progress as a player. But now, I think I am getting there, and I am growing as a player. I can still do more.
TM: Why do you think you have not had the opportunity to play consistently at Pirates, particularly during the times you were injury-free?
KD: To be honest, maybe it was about performances. You would play a game and you give 100 percent and maybe it's not enough. Maybe the team draws or loses and when the coach checks in the next game, maybe he prefers to play another player and then you go back to the bench and fight again to get back into the starting line-up. So, I think that's it.
TM: When you look at your performances, do you think you are a consistent player?
KD: I think consistent players are the ones who get game-time. You can't judge a player by one game or two games. If you want to see if a player is consistent or not, you must give him maybe three or four games (consecutively) and see what he can give you. If you give someone one game, he might perform, or things might not go the way he wished. That means he is going to go out of the team. It happens that you can get your chance, but it does not happen that way, obviously people will say you are inconsistent.
TM: So, what discussions have you and coach Jose Riveiro been having lately regarding your form and the growth of your game?
KD: To be honest, we have been having discussions about what I do off the ball. When we don't have the ball, I need to help the team to mark because he knows what I am capable of doing when we have the ball. But, in most cases, he wanted me to concentrate on marking and I think I have improved on that. Even if they were to say it's not 100 percent now, I've improved compared to the previous season.
TM: Does that now require you to work on being fitter as a player?
KD: Yes, you have to be fitter. I don't think my fitness levels were there in previous seasons compared to now. As you know, Pirates play with high tempo and speed, but I think I have improved a lot on that.
TM: Let's focus more on the team. What do you make of the season you guys have had?
KD: We started well by winning the MTN8. We won a few games in the first half of the season, but when you start to drop points and draw two, three or four games and you are competing against Mamelodi Sundowns… obviously those guys don't lose or draw much. So, it's going to be difficult for you to catch up with them. We started well but we did not collect enough points early in the season like Sundowns did.
TM: Speaking of Downs, what do you make of them winning seven consecutive league titles and dominating local football so much?
KD: Eish, it's difficult. Obviously, they are a top team, and we compete with them. They do their work as much as we do our work. But, as soon as you draw games, they open up a gap. They are a top team, take nothing away from them. We have to compete with them and, to do that, we have to win our games. Even now, they have not lost a game. It's about consistency. We have to be consistent from start to finish. We can't finish strong and start slow. It's about consistency. We have to work on ourselves. I am talking for Pirates and not for other clubs.
TM: There are people who believe money has a big role to play in Sundowns' dominance. Do you agree with that school of thought?
KD: Money does not play football. We cannot have that excuse. We have to try to compete with them and fight for the championship. Money has nothing to do with it. It's just an excuse. We have to compete with them as Pirates. We are a big team, and big teams compete.
TM: The last Pirates team to win the league had leaders such as Lucky Lekgwathi, Benni McCarthy, Moeneeb Josephs, Rooi Mahamutsa and Siyabonga Sangweni. Do you feel the current team has those leaders and characters in the dressing room at the moment?
KD: Yes, we do. To be honest, I think we have. The video you saw of "Tito" (Patrick Maswanganyi in the Soweto Derby) was captured. But, in other games, we have leaders in the dressing room who talk to the team at half-time. We do have leaders in the dressing room who play a big role.
TM: Do you see yourself as one of them?
KD: Ha, ha, ha. I can be one.
TM: Looking at how many cups you've won under Riveiro, would you say the team has put more focus on knockout competitions than you have on trying to win the league?
KD: No. Orlando Pirates always wants to win the league, to be honest. A team like Pirates has to compete with Mamelodi Sundowns. We have to fight for the league. We are not playing only for the cups. We push more, maybe on the cups and start slow in the league. That's why it looks like we are more focused on winning cups. We need to start strong in the league and then we will see what happens.
TM: How much pressure do you think there will be from supporters to win the league next season as Riveiro heads into a third campaign with the club?
KD: There is always pressure. Pirates is a big team, and we have to win the league. As we win cups, we need to win the league as well. We always play to win the league. When the season starts and we have objectives, the league is part of it. The pressure of the league is there.
TM: After the final DStv Premiership game of the season this weekend, you are going to face Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final. Firstly, what are your thoughts going into the final?
KD: Obviously, we have to try to win it. It's going to be difficult because we are playing Sundowns, but we need to try to win it. For now, we are focused on winning the last game of the (league) season.
TM: Does it give you a psychological edge that you beat them in the MTN8 final earlier this season?
KD: We beat them in the MTN8, but now it's a different ball game and it's a different competition. And it might be a different Mamelodi Sundowns. It does not give us that (psychological edge). It's a different ball game, so we have to go out there and give our best. These two teams are big, and they always have to deliver. Pressure will always be there. We as players know that there is pressure, and we have to try to do our best. We will see where our best takes us, but I hope we win the cup.
TM: Before we let you go. As a player in good form at the moment, how do you rate your chances of getting into the Bafana Bafana team?
KD: As a player, you always want to represent your country. If you are not being called (up) when you are performing, obviously you will be disappointed but support the guys who are being called. When the opportunity comes, I'll have to grab it with both hands.
TM: Did you feel you deserved a call-up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, based on your form?
KD: I'll leave that to the coach. I respect the coach's decision.
TM: As we head into the final weekend of the season, what are your chances of finishing second and are you surprised to see that second-placed Stellenbosch FC has done so well?
KD: I am not surprised that Stellenbosch is fighting for number two. They have been doing well in the previous two seasons and they also deserve to be where they are. The only thing we can do is to push and try to win our game. We will see what happens on Saturday, but we are hoping to finish number two. Pirates is a team that has to compete in the Champions League and in every cup. We were disappointed to get knocked out in the first round (earlier this season), so that's why we badly want to go back to the Champions League.
TM: Thank you for your time, Shuffle. All the best against SuperSport United this weekend.
KD: Thank you.
KABELO DLAMINI FACT FILE
Date of birth: 16 May 1996
Place of birth: Daveyton, Gauteng
Nickname: Shuffle
Position: Midfielder
Jersey No: 18
Club: Orlando Pirates
Previous clubs: Stars of Africa Academy, Bloemfontein Celtic
Honours: 2020, 2022 2023 MTN8 winner, 2023 Nedbank Cup winner (all with Pirates)
