Motshwari is in line to get his first experience of the Soweto rivalry in action when The Buccaneers host Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The 27-year-old workhorse arrived from Bidvest Wits at the start of the season and was handed his debut against SuperSport United in the MTN8 a few weeks ago, and he has not looked back since – starting seven consecutive games thereafter and grabbing his first goal for the club.
His adaptability could be key to Pirates’ approach on the weekend, as they look to overpower the likes of Willard Katsande and Siphelele Ntshangase and dominate the middle of the park.
The diminutive midfield enforcer is being able to play alongside Xola Mlambo in a two-man midfield or play a more mobile role in support of Mlambo and Musa Nyatama, as he has shown in recent fixtures.
“I was prepared, because I think I spent the last couple of games of last season watching Pirates, and for me it was going to be tough [breaking into the team] seeing how well Musa and Xola were playing,” Motshwari tells snl24.com/kickoff.
“Their combination was working very well, and it all came down to hard work for me. I didn’t come to just add numbers, I came to benefit the team and contribute positively.”
His former Wits teammates, including star forward Vincent Pule, have aided in his easing into a new system and style of play under coaches Milutin Sredojevic ad Rhulani Mokwena, who continue to show their faith in Motshwari’s abilities.
“It made it a bit easier that Xola and I know each other and played together at Wits. We’re friends on and off the pitch. In fact, we’re almost like brothers,” he says.
“So, that helped me settle and adapt to the demands, and of course [Vincent] Pule also helped.”
Bucs are currently in a promising position on the log table, sitting just one point behind The Clever Boys at the top and lead Amakhosi by two points heading into this weekend’s all-important encounter.
But Motshwari refuses to get carried away by the current picture of the standings and insists they will continue looking to collect maximum points regardless of who or where they play.
“We’re in a respectable place at the moment, and we would like to keep it that way. As long as we remain amongst top and trying to compete like any big club would want to,” he adds.
“So, for us, it’s a respectable position and we would like to keep it that way for as long as we can. If the football gods grant us success, then who knows – anything can happen.
“But, it’s still early to say anything [about the title race], a lot can still happen. We just need to go out and try to get maximum points in each and every game.”