Pirates legend: Hlatshwayo could become club captain

Thulani Hlatshwayo of Bidvest Wits

Monday Jun 22, 2020. 11:00

Orlando Pirates legend Steve Lekolea has expressed his belief that Thulani Hlatshwayo could become the Buccaneers’ club captain if he joins the Soweto giants from Bidvest Wits.

The Bafana Bafana defender is set to leave the Clever Boys at the end of the season, with the University-based club having reportedly sold their top-flight status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

Hlatshwayo has been most strongly linked to Pirates, and Lekolea believes that if ‘Tyson’ does indeed join the Buccaneers, he could replace veteran Happy Jele as the team skipper.

“Tyson can challenge Jele for the captain’s armband at Pirates [if he decides to join],” Lekoelea told Isolezwe.

Lekoelea stresses that Jele has been a fine captain for Pirates, but believes that Hlatshwayo’s arrival would go a long way in solving one of their key problems.

“Let me make it clear that [Jele] has done a wonderful job all these years. I like both of them but the arrival of Hlatshwayo could signal the growth of the team and the problem of a leaky defence would be solid,” he said.

“Pirates are playing beautiful football of late. The only problem is when they have to defend because they are giving away cheap goals.”

He added, “In Hlatshwayo, they would get someone who knows how to read the game very well, who’s strong and doesn’t take nonsense. Even his teammates will learn a lot from him.”