For the first time since back-to-back domestic trophies, Orlando Pirates are seemingly starting to show signs of hallmarks of champions, ahead of CAF Champions League and Betway Premiership rivalry with Mamelodi Sundowns.
In spite of winning four successive cup tournaments under Jose Riveiro, Pirates have struggled in recent years to get the goals where it matters most, slumping to narrow defeats in the Champions League preliminary stages and drawing matches they were supposed to win domestically.
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However, the Soweto giants seem to be coming of age ahead of the Champions League and Premiership marathons, with most of their goals so far this season coming in critical stages of matches.
With their Champions League second preliminary round, first leg against Jwaneng Galaxy seemingly heading to half-time goalless, Tshegofatso Mabasa scored just before the break, a crucial away goal, and they managed to get another goal late through Deon Hotto in a 2-0 victory.
Against Chippa United in the league opener, the old Pirates would have dropped two points after the game reached 90 minutes tied 1-1, but Monnapule Saleng delivered the winner soon after, in a goal that showed the side's maturity through patience in their game.
Saleng also scored against Galaxy in the second preliminary round, second leg at the death, which clinched a convincing 3-0 win on aggregate.
The Botswana side's head coach Morena Ramoreboli has suggested that Pirates are showing maturity, with them scoring in critical phases.
"One lesson that maybe one took from the Pirates team is the patience. there were moments where they were under pressure, but you could still see them behaving in a proper way, to say, let's not rush, let's not commit ourselves too early," Ramoreboli said in the post-match conference at Orlando Stadium.
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"And these are elements only a group of individuals who are maturing as professionals would understand the importance of being patient, and I think that's one element they did right.
"We allowed goals that were conceded in the critical phases of the match, which are lessons that are tactical, which allows us as coaches to go back and work on them," Ramoreboli added.