Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa could be in a fight to prove his worth again, as new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou appears to have different ideas upfront.
Mabasa has been the leading striker at Pirates in the past two seasons in terms of numbers, scoring 34 goals in total, including the first six months at Moroka Swallows on loan.
However, the Botshabelo native striker was not a first choice striker under former coach Jose Riveiro, who preferred Evidence Makgopa.
As a result, Makgopa also solidified his position in the Bafana Bafana setup, with the former Bloemfontein Celtic striker not receiving any national team call-up.
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Mabasa appears not to be front and centre of Ouaddou's ideas upfront ahead of the new season, as new signing Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane featured more prominently in The Buccaneers' pre-season friendlies.
The former Swallows striker only featured off the bench against Bolton Wanderers but was unused against Pafos, Las Palmas and Granada.
Pirates legend Benedict 'Tso' Vilakazi has offered a message of encouragement to the 28-year-old.
"Boy, don't give up, continue to work hard. Yes, I've seen in some pre-season games that you were not that featured like other strikers," Vilakazi said on omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel.
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"But don't give up. You know what I'm talking about. You know you went to Swallows because you didn't get game time but you did very well and came back and continued where you left off. For me it shows character.
"You can't keep a good man down. Boy they can bring 20 other strikers, I'm telling you from my heart, but I don't think they will close you down and make you not to be seen. You're once special player that knows the poles. So far in my eyes, at Pirates, you're the only striker where even when I'm sleeping and you say, 'Who do you want to put in as a striker?', it's always going to be you," 'Little Napoloen' added.
Mabasa is six goals away from breaking Vilakazi's record as the all-time leading goal-scorer at the Soweto giants.
