SuperSport United defender Thulani Hlatshwayo says for the first time in two seasons he is feeling excited when he goes to training because it was not the case at his previous club Orlando Pirates as he hardly played.
Hlatshwayo spent two seasons with Pirates, with both seasons producing contrasting fortunes.
When he joined Pirates ahead of the 2020/21 season after Bidvest Wits was ripped apart in front of him, he started well, winning the MTN8 – the trophy he himself lifted in Durban just months in the side.
Pirates fans felt that they have found a defender they have been craving for years to replace Siyabonga Sangweni and Rooi Mahamutsa, who brought a lot of success in the heart of defence for the Soweto giants.
As much as Pirates won the MTN8 trophy in his first season, Hlatshwayo was still faulty, scoring an own goal at one point against Swallows and again allowing the ball to bounce in front of him in the Soweto Derby inside the box instead of hacking it away, with Samir Nurkovic flicking the ball over to score. But he was able to correct it at some point.
Last season, he embarrassed himself yet again in the Derby – attempting a back pass that was half-cooked at FNB Stadium, allowing Chiefs to capitalise on that.
Tyson, as he’s known, never recovered after that, leaving the club at the end of last season to be reunited with coach Gavin Hunt before this season started.
“For sure obviously it is a relief and it’s a breath of fresh air,” said Hlatshwayo.
“Its exciting – I’m always looking forward to going to training and doing what you love.”
Hlatshwayo looks to recapture the old form that saw him lift three trophies at Wits under coach Gavin Hunt, including the league title in the 2016/17 season.
While he is working with someone who knows him perfectly well, Hlatshwayo says he never imagined what he went through and it is surprising him so soon that he is playing this well after a traumatic experience at Pirates.
“I have never imagined because when you look at my football career – from Ajax Cape Town, to Bidvest Wits, to the national team (being the captain there with over 50 caps), I have always been the player that plays 25 plus games, always there scoring goals, defending goals,” he said.
“Throughout all those years up until 2020, having experienced everything, I would say everything was new to me.
“What I appreciate is the support structure and my family, my friends, who I might know around the industry that we find ourselves in to be there and be supportive.”
