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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates central defender Ayanda Gcaba is eager to win the Absa Premiership title in his fifth season with the Soweto giants.
Having joined Pirates from Free State Stars in the 2012/13 season, Gcaba has been gradually consolidating his place in the Bucs' defence, eventually becoming a key man at the heart of the backline, alongside retired Siyabonga Sangweni, Rooi Mahamutsa and Edwin Gyimah.
Naturally a left-back, the 30-year-old versatile defender has been playing as a centre-back for the most part of last season, with only few appearances at full-back.
"When joining Pirates from Free State Stars, I thought to myself 'the time has come for me to win major trophies and league title'," Gcaba told Vodacom Soccer.
"Yes, I have won Nedbank Cup [in 2014], which is a league's major trophy, and also played in two CAF finals [Champions League and Confederation Cup], but since joining Pirates I've always had this desire of laying my hands on Absa Premiership trophy
"But with the squad we are currently assembling, with the notable signings having been added, and with coach Muhsin [Ertugral] with a winning mentality now at the helm, I think we will have what it takes to challenge for league title and other major trophies in the upcoming season.
"And with the team's 80th anniversary approaching, of course it will be great for us to clinch the league title and commemorate in style," added Gcaba, who has made 94 appearances and scored six goals in his four seasons with Bucs.
The towering Port Shepstone-born defender will be expected to form part of Bucs' squad that will take on arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the much anticipated Carling Black Label Champion Cup on July 30 at FNB Stadium.
Kick-off is at 15:30.
