Ndumiso Mabena aiming high

Mabena has showed a lot promise, as a creative player who gets into scoring positions, but has not stamped his authority on the team by scoring goals.

"I am hoping that I get more game-time and I hope that I can convert all the scoring chances that I get and contend for the top goalscorer," he says.

"For me to get up there ... it's up to me, and the hard work that I will be putting in."

Mabena says he is aware regular time on the pitch will be hard to come by, adding that the final word comes from Augusto Palacios.

"It is not easy to be guaranteed regular game-time because as the coach said everybody who works hard will get a chance. So for me when I don't play it means there is something that I am doing wrong and when I play it means there is something that I am doing right.

"But then it is always up to the coach to decide when I will play."

The 25-year-old says he knows what area of his game he has to work on.

"[Failing to convert chances] doesn't affect me at all but instead motivates me because it shows I am getting into the good positions and the only thing that I need to do now is convert them," he says.

The former Winners Park forward adds that retaining all the titles they won last season is Pirates' priority this season.

"We have created history by winning the treble in consecutive years so my biggest hope is for us to defend all our titles," he says.