New Orlando Pirates recruit Selaelo Rasebotja is poised to take on the challenges that come with representing one of South Africa’s biggest football institutions. The 23-year-old midfielder is one of the fresh faces in Spain with the Buccaneers following his off-season move from SuperSport United. It’s a significant move for Rasebotja, having spent the entirety of his professional career at Matsatsansa.
In an exclusive interview with Orlandopiratesfc.com, Rasebotja reflected on the moment he learned about the Soweto Giants’ interest in his services. “I was really excited when I found out that Pirates was interested in me,” he said.
“Every footballer’s dream is to play for a big club. For an institution like Orlando Pirates to enquire about my services is a big career move, and I looked forward to it with enthusiasm and excitement. So yeah, I’m really excited to join a big club like Orlando Pirates.” While adjusting to a new environment can be challenging, Rasebotja has found the transition smooth so far.
“It’s getting better day by day,” he noted. “From the first day, the guys welcomed me well. As time goes on, I’ll get used to them and we’ll gel on the field. It’s a work in progress. We’ll take it one day at a time.” Bucs fans got their first glimpse of Rasebotja in the famous black and white when he ran out for 45 minutes against English Championship side Plymouth Argyle in the sweltering heat of Marbella, Spain on Friday. It was a welcome experience for the player, who expressed immense pride at having donned the club’s iconic colours in a match situation.
“I was excited to represent the club for the first time,” he recalled. “It’s a big responsibility, but I took it quite well. It can only get better from here. I enjoyed it and I felt really proud of myself for getting the opportunity to represent Pirates.” Awaiting the Buccaneers in this week are games against Spanish outfits Sevilla and Granada. Looking ahead to a trip to Ramón Cisneros Palacios this evening, Rasebotja emphasised the importance of facing quality teams during pre-season to prepare for the upcoming campaign.
“Sevilla is one of the top teams in Spain, and we would like to play against the best to also showcase what we are capable of,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there and competing against a good team like Sevilla, and hopefully we get the result that we want as well. We’ll play to win as always.”
Pirates’ game against Sevilla kicks off at 21:00 (SAST) 15 July 2024.
