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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele feels the next 10 matches will dictate whether they are seen as worthy title challengers in the Premiership this season.
Muhsin Ertugral's side are unbeaten after four league encounters following back-to-back wins over Golden Arrows and Ajax Cape Town along with successive draws against cape Town City and Platinum Stars.
The third-placed Buccaneers trail front-runners Kaizer Chiefs by two points with a game in hand on their fiercest rivals, and Jele wants his team to finish the first-half of the campaign on a high.
As such, the 29-year-old insists it is crucial that Pirates pick up as many points as possible in their next 10 top-flight fixtures - starting with the trip to Polokwane City after the international break.
"We may have not come out with the wins in our last two league matches, but the fact that we have still managed to come out with a point in each of the last two drawn matches we have played, comes as a motivation for us to keep on fighting," Jele told Vodacom Soccer website.
"It's still the early stage of the season, but as they say, the early bird catches the worm. So, as the league title-challenging side we will have to double our efforts as early as we can to collect vital points.
"Look, in order to determine our capability to challenge for league title it will be important for us to finish the first round on a high note. So, the next 10 league matches before the festive break as well as AFCON break in January, will be vital for us in fighting for invaluable points."
The right-back, who can also operate in central defence, has urged Amabhakabhaka to stake their claim early on by beating the likes of Chiefs, Supersport United, Chippa United and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns before the mid-season break.
"Our next 10 league matches will be the tough ones indeed, considering the fact that we will be playing the likes of our arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, Supersport, Chippa and Sundowns among them before the festive break," he added.
"And by next week we will also start our Telkom Knockout campaign, which we will also take with equal importance as the league campaign. But we are ready to take the bull by the horns in this season, watch this space."
Muhsin Ertugral's side are unbeaten after four league encounters following back-to-back wins over Golden Arrows and Ajax Cape Town along with successive draws against cape Town City and Platinum Stars.
The third-placed Buccaneers trail front-runners Kaizer Chiefs by two points with a game in hand on their fiercest rivals, and Jele wants his team to finish the first-half of the campaign on a high.
As such, the 29-year-old insists it is crucial that Pirates pick up as many points as possible in their next 10 top-flight fixtures - starting with the trip to Polokwane City after the international break.
"We may have not come out with the wins in our last two league matches, but the fact that we have still managed to come out with a point in each of the last two drawn matches we have played, comes as a motivation for us to keep on fighting," Jele told Vodacom Soccer website.
"It's still the early stage of the season, but as they say, the early bird catches the worm. So, as the league title-challenging side we will have to double our efforts as early as we can to collect vital points.
"Look, in order to determine our capability to challenge for league title it will be important for us to finish the first round on a high note. So, the next 10 league matches before the festive break as well as AFCON break in January, will be vital for us in fighting for invaluable points."
The right-back, who can also operate in central defence, has urged Amabhakabhaka to stake their claim early on by beating the likes of Chiefs, Supersport United, Chippa United and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns before the mid-season break.
"Our next 10 league matches will be the tough ones indeed, considering the fact that we will be playing the likes of our arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, Supersport, Chippa and Sundowns among them before the festive break," he added.
"And by next week we will also start our Telkom Knockout campaign, which we will also take with equal importance as the league campaign. But we are ready to take the bull by the horns in this season, watch this space."
