Orlando Pirates: Vincent Pule wants to be a greater threat in front of goal

Orlando Pirates star Vincent Pule is pleased to have opened his account for the season but wants to score more goals and lay on more assists to help the team’s cause.

Pule has left the Sea Robbers squad for the international break, joining up with the rest of the Bafana Bafana group in Durban as they prepare for an AFCON qualifier against minnows São Tomé and Príncipe.

Pule wants goals for Orlando Pirates

The Orlando Pirates midfielder believes that he needs to do more in the final third for club and country and hopes to score more goals this term.

Pule is the owner of a handful of spectacular goals but hasn’t really hit the back of the net with the kind of regularity that an attack-minded player craves.

The Free-State born winger has scored just 21 goals in 127 senior club appearances while at the same time notching 14 assists.

His goal against Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN 8 semi-final first leg was his first in ten outings in the competition but Pule hopes that it is the start of an uptick in his scoring rate.

“Scoring in the derby was a great feeling and again it was the start of the season and now I’m here and hoping for the best. I think I have to add more to my goals and assists and I think that’s it. I will be happy when I score goals,” said Pule at a press conference in Durban.

Putting injuries behind him

Pule’s career has been stunted by injuries and despite his obvious ability he has earned just two caps for Bafana Bafana.

The Orlando Pirates man says he is savouring the experience of a national team call-up and is hopeful of adding another cap to his collection.

“I’m excited to be called up for the national team, it’s always been great to be here with the other guys. And like I said, I’m excited and it’s overwhelming,” Pule added.

“I struggled a bit with injuries, but I kept going, I told myself that I’m not going to stop because of minor injuries. To be here again, like I said I’m excited and I’m happy to be with the other guys. I’m happy to play with the overseas-based guys and for me I’m just here to add an impact to the team, hopefully maybe I get a chance to play.”

Bafana Bafana will be eager to take three points from the match given that their serious group rivals Ghana and Sudan are also in action this weekend a win could help them either make up ground on the group leaders or put some distance between themselves and the third-placed side.