Trying to speak to Thabo Rakhale at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday was a nightmare.

From the moment he walked out from the Terminal A arrival doors, the Orlando Pirates dribbling wizard was surrounded by fans who wanted to congratulate him for the superb goal he scored to earn the Buccaneers a crucial 1-0 victory over CS Sfaxien in their Group B CAF Confederation Cup clash on Sunday.

He tried to talk to the media, but was interrupted by selfie-hunting fans before he could even utter a word. He could only grin.

This is a player Pirates fans have come to adore and he's gone from being an impact player to someone coach Eric Tinkler cannot leave out of the starting line-up. And the player is loving every minute of it.

"It all goes down to working hard," Rakhale said of his performance in Tunisia, when he finally got a minute to speak. "I have been waiting for my chance and I am happy that at the moment I am using it.

"It's a great feeling, but I have to keep my mind on what I do best and keep my feet on the ground. We got the maxi- mum points that we needed and credit should go to my teammates as well."

Second-placed Pirates need to win their next two matches, which are at home, against Sfaxien and Congolese side AC Leopards to guarantee themselves a spot in the semifinal.

"I believe we can win the competition because we have a strong team," said Rakhale.

Another Pirates hero, goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo, was also mobbed by adoring fans after his brilliant performance.

"We always knew the travelling would be hectic. We travelled for over 20 hours, but we knew we had to go there and collect the three points.

"I will keep growing as a player and I will take it one game at a time," he said.