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Motupa vows to shine at Baroka after listless stint with Pirates

Baroka's new signing Gift Motupa is adamant that he didn't fail at Orlando Pirates and rejoins the Limpopo side high on confidence.

The 22-year-old will spend the 2017/18 campaign with Bakgaga, the team he previously captained, on loan from the Buccaneers.

Motupa left Baroka to Pirates in 2015, but failed to make an impact at the Soweto giants. In two seasons with Pirates, Motupa managed 34 appearances but scored just two goals.

"I've gone back to Baroka because the plan is to get more game time and get better as a player. When you play, you grow as a player," Motupa told Sowetan yesterday.

"I think it was a good experience for me at Pirates, you understand. It was great being there training with those guys.

"I don't have any complaints about my stay at Pirates. It was good and I'm happy. Things went well for me there and I don't have any issues. It's just that the game time was not as much as it could have been.

"I would have loved to play more, but besides that I was happy at Pirates and I will be happy to go back any time."

Motupa said he's now focused on ensuring that Baroka, his home province club, doesn't end up fighting relegation like last season. "I believe that we can do better than last year. I'm looking forward to next season.

"I will just have to adapt quickly because most of the players who are here are not the same players I played with before (during Baroka's time in the NFD). But the good thing is I played for Baroka and I know the culture of the team."

Baroka's other new signings are Lewis Macha (Kaizer Chiefs), Abdi Banda (Simba, Tanzania), Talent Chawapiwa (FC Platinum, Zimbabwe) and Lucky Nguzana (Umraniyespor, Turkey).

They are also expected to sign former Chiefs midfielder David Mathebula this week.

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