Heartbroken Kamogelo Sebelebele opens up on impact of injury at Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates winger Kamogelo Sebelebele has broken his silence over an injury that had kept him out of action late last year.

Sebelebele was enjoying a debut season at Pirates and also earned a place in the Bafana Bafana team before he missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The winger signed for Pirates from TS Galaxy ahead of this season and started well with three goals in 17 games, two of them in the two MTN8 semi-finals against Mamelodi Sundowns.

However, the injury slowed him down and he has expressed his disappointment at not just being able to play but also fans who have criticised him for getting injured at Pirates after staying injury-free at Galaxy.

 Sebelebele fires back at critics

“Obviously people talk because it [was] my first injury, so people say you get to Orlando Pirates and you get injured, when you played for TS Galaxy, you didn’t get injuries,” he said on the Bucs Camp as quoted by iDiski Times.

“It’s hectic at Orlando Pirates, people are busy with you, some are not happy, things like that. They don’t understand that we play soccer and it’s a contact sport. So, injuries will always be there.”

The forward, who also plays at right-back at Pirates, is however, unfazed by the criticism and is looking forward to a successful season.

What left Pirates star heartbroken?

“Not everything has ‘people’ involved. Sometimes we have to be positive, and I don’t like listening to naysayers, because they can potentially bring harm,” he added.

“I’m heartbroken, I didn’t expect to get an injury anytime soon – it breaks my heart when I miss games, but as long as the team is playing well, I am happy I’ll forever support them, even when I’m injured.”

Sebelebele will be hoping to be involved when Pirates take on Tshakhuma in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32.