Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa has revealed it took him 'two or three days' to believe his heroics of scoring the winner against Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby.
The 26-year-old has been somewhat of a lucky charm for the Buccaneers in the Nedbank Cup, scoring the winning spot-kick in the quarter-final to defeat Dondol Stars before coming on as a substitute to home the winner as Pirates knocked out rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the semi-final of the competition.
"I pinch myself, I tell myself that I'm not dreaming and scoring in the derby? Imagine. Maybe I only believed it after two or three days because I was happy that we won that game," Mthethwa said.
Kushubile ???
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) May 6, 2023
Sandile Mthethwa towers to give Tse Ntsho the lead for the second time in the match with seven minutes left ??#NedbankCup pic.twitter.com/eS5ev24DVp
"But when I look back at it I said, 'why me? It could have been someone else but it's something that [happens] when you work hard and when you believe and you give support to others, it's something that will come naturally, the Gods of football will just come to you.
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"For me, I was happy to be part of the family and held the club to go to the final and not get the second spot so we can go back to the Champions League.
Such has been Mthethwa's influence that head coach Riveiro has labelled the Nedbank Cup as his competition.
"It's his (Mthethwa) cup. He scored the winning goal in the previous round against Dondol [Stars]," Riveiro said.
"So, it looks like it is his cup. He has done it before and I'm so happy for the guy. He is working very, very well."
Pirates take on Sekhukhune United for the final of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 18:00.