Thabiso Monyane was promoted to the Orlando Pirates senior team back in 2019 after playing a starring role in the club's academy structures, where his skills were honed since he first underwent trials in 2012. He was a teenager then, but four years on and he has been part of the Buccaneers' first team set-up since. By his own admission, the 2023/24 season could certainly see the coming of age of the fullback under head coach Jose Riveiro. The speedy star was amongst the players present at the Soweto giants' jersey launch for the new campaign last week, where Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver took the opportunity to chat to him. The conversation centres around the team's pre-season preparations in Spain, a return to CAF Champions League action and mental health for footballers, among other topics. Read on!
Delmain Faver: Hola señor Thabiso! Orlando Pirates are fresh off a pre-season camp in Spain. We saw the videos, we saw the performances, we saw you guys come back undefeated. Could you provide us with your observation of how it all went?
Thabiso Monyane: Yeah, look, the pre-season has been going well. We went to Europe, it was quite hot that side, we were just acclimatizing. We played three games – one against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the second one against Independiente and the last one against Las Palmas. It was quite challenging games, but that just shows you that in terms of the level, we are not too far (off) and we actually can do it. Coming back to SA, the preparations have been going well as well. We are looking forward to the new season and we just can't wait to start off.
DF: In the popular Bucs Camp TV documentary, some of your teammates opened up on very personal matters, which is not always the case because footballers naturally are guarded. So, to be vulnerable to your teammates is something that is almost unheard of. Has that made the bond closer between the players?
TM: That was the main objective of the exercise, if one may say, hence the brotherhood, hence you see us fighting for one another, fighting for the badge. You know where someone comes from and why he is acting the way he is and you actually get to know him, even outside of football, that certain situations they handle certain ways. So, I feel like them opening up really, really creates that safe environment to say I can share with you and I can talk to you as a brother and sometimes not as a teammate, so that when we get onto the pitch, it's in sync and everything just becomes easier for us.
DF: Does that help? Because talk of mental health in sport has become so prevalent. You saw the reaction to the Dele Alli interview recently. As footballers, you live under a microscope of some sort. Does speaking openly like that help the cause?
TM: Well, you know, not every footballer prefers to be out in the open like that, but I would say speaking about what's troubling you, especially in football because there are other things that happen in football that the public don't know… I feel like speaking out and getting help is really the right direction and the right thing to do because not only do you heal, but you move on from your past experiences.
DF: The bond continues because there have been very minimal changes in terms of additions to the team. During the pre-season games, the likes of Patrick Maswanganyi looked like they had been part of the team for many years...
TM: Yes, definitely. Here in the Orlando Pirates family, we welcome them as brothers. We've been tight since from last season and we welcome them as brothers, hence they are gelling in nicely. And they are quality players. This team deserves to be in the CAF Champions League and we are back and we are looking forward to going to conquer Africa again. So, we will be looking towards them so that they can add to what we achieved last season.
DF: The Buccaneers will possibly be playing in six competitions, which are the DStv Premiership, MTN8, Nedbank Cup, Carling Knockout, CAF Champions League and African Super League. Looking at the squad, do you think there is enough depth to challenge on all fronts this campaign?
TM: Look, the trust is there, the unity is there, the brotherhood is there, the chemistry is there. Hard work is being put in, tactics are being put in. We are looking forward to it. It won't be an easy season, that's one thing for sure, but we are looking forward to the challenge. We've set the bar high for ourselves and we need to maintain or do better.
DF: Under coach Jose Riveiro last season, there was a relatively slow start to matters and the team took a bit of time to adjust to his tactics, but once things kicked into gear, we saw a fluid outfit. Would you say that continuity is key for you guys because a lot of people believe that if there's one team to stop Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance, it is Orlando Pirates?
TM: Oh, definitely! As I said, the bar has been set from us. We know we are going into each and every game one at a time, and we are looking forward to the new season. It's going to be an exciting season. The Buccaneers and the supporters deserve to be happy and they will be happy.
DF: In 2022/23, the Soweto giants pulled a rabbit out of the hat by winning two trophies. The big question is, how do you better that achievement?
TM: The only way we can top that is by getting a treble, or more. That's the mandate, and the mandate is clear.
DF: Speaking of the mandate, it appears that the coach does not have any favourites and is willing to reward the hard work that he sees from his charges on the training ground. As a player, it must give you the itch to want to prove yourself on a weekly basis…
TM: A top coach, who is very honest. Myself and (Bandile) Shandu have a very healthy competition. It's a brotherhood, sort of, like, we support one another, we coach one another, we help one another whenever someone is struggling. That's why when one gets a chance, he excels in that particular position and going into the new season, we have to do more. We have to double that because we are playing in bigger competitions and we are looking forward to that.
DF: The Spaniard initially came across as 'boring', at least from a journalist's perspective, because he often says he doesn't speak about the individual as, according to him, it's all about the group. But one can imagine what that does to the group dynamic because everyone gets an equal opportunity. Does that help with the camaraderie in the team?
TM: Yes, definitely, and that's what is pushing us as a team also to say if you are slacking, one of your brothers must pull you up because we don't want you to sulk and slack alone because we are a team, a unit. So, once one is slacking or not performing well, the senior players, like Kermit Erasmus, will step in and have a conversation with you, to say, "What is happening? You have to step up." And I feel like that has been working for us.
DF: Right.
TM: For the likes of (Relebohile) Ratomo, I've been privileged and lucky to be in the space where I've been playing with Happy Jele, who's been grooming me. He's been mentoring me, and now that Ratomo is in the first team, I feel like now the responsibility has changed. So, I have to step up now and say, "These are the pros and cons, especially coming from the development side."
DF: For you personally, is this the season where we see you come of age? Let's be honest, at 23, you are not a kid anymore. So, there is an expectation of consistent performances where you cement your place in the Bucs starting XI...
TM: No, definitely. Look, I've had my fair share of injuries last season, inconsistency there and there, but this season I'm looking to better that. I'm looking to become a better version of myself to help the team also to achieve its goals. It's not always about the individual players but about the team and I'm looking forward to helping the team achieve its goals.
DF: Having shaken off the injuries, what are you looking forward to this season seeing there's a lot of expectation from the fans?
TM: It's not about the individual, but as a team, we are building the unity, the brotherhood, plus (we have) a few players coming in. We wanna welcome them with warm hands and we want to set the record straight, to say, "We want that second star on the badge."
DF: Last but not least, your close friend Lyle Foster has made massive strides in Europe. Seeing him progress must be heartwarming for you as his former teammate.
TM: Yes, I'm extremely happy for him and the family. We are still close, by the way. We talk very frequently. So, I'm just happy for him.
DF: Thabiso, thank you. We appreciate your time and good luck for this season.
TM: Thank you.
Monyane on the new Orlando Pirates kit
"I actually don't have a favorite (between the home and away strips), but I'll keep it original, black and white. It's very vintage, original and we are looking forward to playing with it. I, myself, am super excited to be playing in the new kit and definitely we will be rocking it with pride."
THABISO MONYANE FACT FILE
Full name: Thabiso James Monyane
Date of birth: 30 April 2000
Place of birth: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Nickname: James
Jersey number: 2
Position: Defender
Club: Orlando Pirates
Previous clubs: Augusto Palacios Apprentice
Academy, Orlando Pirates juniors
Honours: 2020/21 MTN8 winner, 2021/22CAF Confederation Cup runner-up, 2022/23 MTN8 winner, 2022/23 Nedbank Cup winner (all with Pirates), 6 national U20 caps, 4 national U23 caps
